An independent review of avocado maturity sample size was undertaken in 2015 on behalf of the AIC Quality Standards Review Working Group. As a result of a recommendation from this review, a sample size of twenty fruit will be required in order to qualify for payment of collection and testing under the AIC New Zealand market maturity testing initiative in 2016. 

AIC will pay the cost of Agfirst collection and testing for new season New Zealand market avocados that:

• Are collected and tested by Agfirst;
• Have an average dry matter content across a twenty fruit sample of at least 23%;
• Fruit that passes must be ethylene ripened using the AIC Ethylene Ripening Protocol, however if the 20 fruit sample averages 24% dry matter or greater, ethylene ripening is not compulsory. 

To order an early season maturity test, growers should contact their local packhouse or Agfirst. 

AIC says that it’s important that consumers who are purchasing new season avocados early in the season have a positive experience with the ripening and taste of their fruit. It adds that the initiative has been developed to make it easier for all avocado growers to assess the maturity of their fruit prior to harvest and help ensure a positive consumer experience.

Source: NZ Avacado Growers Association Inc.