Avocados to be celebrated

More avocado-themed items could soon be seen through Katikati to showcase what the town is renowned for — growing great tasting avocados.

The avocado capital of New Zealand is gearing up to blend more of the fruit in different ways throughout the town.

Thirty five people, predominantly growers with some in marketing, attended a public meeting recently to share ideas. The outcome was positive according to meeting organiser Katch Katikati’s Jacqui Knight. She said there was a lot of support and everyone was keen.

“The general feeling from the meeting was to aim for something big, but grow in natural baby steps.

Starting small, some ideas included adding another day or two onto the annual Avocado Food and Wine Festival. OpenAir Art was happy to work in combination, with its Mural Town branding. Having avocado grower stories on the screen at the Arts Junction for visitors viewing.

There are plans to bring the big avocado sculpture that’s outside Just Avocados Ltd facility in Woodland Road and install it in the mainstreet somewhere.

An avocado centre in the long term was one of the future goals.

Jacqui said if Katikati had a big avocado centre then the town could be competitive in the tourist cruise ship market.

“We are competing with Hobbiton in Matamata and Rotorua for tourists. Unless we have a product to compete with we are hamstrung.

“On their third cruise to New Zealand they might come to Katikati if we had something to offer. It is a captive market — we just have to work on it.

“A centre would take millions of dollars of investment and passion to drive it.”

A steering group of 10 has been set up and will get together again to develop ideas further.

The children’s playground by the Arts Junction is in need of new equipment. Jacqui is keen for it to be avocado-themed and is working with Western Bay of Plenty District Council.