Ecoavo

Doug Brown owns and operates an organic avocado business in the Western Bay of Plenty. He started a half-century ago, when Katikati was a predominantly dairy farming area with no avocado orchards. His entry into avocados coincided with the formation of BioGro, and he became its 10th inaugural member in 1983.

The farm includes a 2.4ha block with 250 trees. Picking on his property is undertaken every fortnight, all year round. Brown planted pine trees to act as a buffer against high winds, noting that the trees act as filters, dissipating the wind.

Using an online sales system, Brown sends avocados around the country to shops, restaurants and individuals. He said recent seasons have been good, production-wise, with a pretty decent crop every year.