New Zealand Avocado Growers Association Spotlights Sustainability Opportunities; Jen Scoular and Florence Van Dyke Comment
NEW ZEALAND - We in the fresh produce industry are all working toward a more sustainable future, and the New Zealand avocado community is no different. This will be a hot topic at the World Avocado Congress taking place in April, which will be the host to an impressive keynote speaker. Sustainable business leader and entrepreneur Florence Van Dyke will address the future of food, climate change, and where New Zealand can show leadership on the world stage.
“Florence brings a wealth of experience on the subject of sustainability,” Jen Scoular, Chief Executive Officer of the New Zealand Avocado Growers Association and President of the World Avocado Congress Committee, says. “The fact is, consumers are increasingly making more informed choices when it comes to the origins of their produce, and there is real demand for products with a low environmental footprint. Growers aren’t simply out to make money, they like being better for the world. To ensure the sustainable growth of the global avocado industry, the global avocado community must come together and decide what actions need to be taken.”
As Head of Sustainability at New Zealand’s international business development agency, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Van Dyke supports NZ exporters in their sustainability journeys. Ranking in Forbes' 30 Under 30 for Asia-Pacific in 2019, Van Dyke also co-founded Chia Sisters.
According to a press release, Van Dyke is also a Co-Founder of Businesses for Climate Action and was a finalist at the United Nations' 2022 WE Empower Sustainable Development Goals Challenge.
“In 2023 we are using 1.7x the world's resources each year,” Van Dyke states. “This is having a huge impact on farmers and growers across the world. When it comes to sustainability there is no winner. The only way to achieve global sustainability is to collaborate and work together and the global avocado community can be an important part of that. I see an opportunity for the avocado industry to prioritize sustainability. This is not just the right thing to do for our people and the planet but is an opportunity to add value to the avocado economy and attract talent and investors to the industry.”
For more on this upcoming keynote, check out the press release here.
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