Gisborne growers awarded gold for avocados at Outstanding Food Producer Awards

David Grey, breeder of the AvoGrey Greenskin avocado. He and his wife Judi Grey were awarded a gold medal at the New Zealand Outstanding Food Producer Awards. Photo / Supplied

Gisborne growers David and Judi Grey have been awarded a gold medal for their AvoGrey Greenskin avocados at the New Zealand Outstanding Food Producer Awards.

The award recognised the AvoGrey “exceptional quality and eating experience”, judges said.

The Outstanding Food Producer Awards celebrate the best of New Zealand’s food and drink, with entries judged by an independent panel of industry experts across a range of categories.

The judges praised the Grey fruit, noting its “beautiful appearance”.

“The skin is even and has an outstanding interior colour. It is a very good, true, clean avocado flavour.”

The Greys were delighted.

“It’s great for the number of growers who have climbed on board and planted the variety. We understand about 20,000 trees [have been planted], mainly in Gisborne, but some in the Bay of Plenty, too.

“We think we’ve done well with the new variety, but it’s great to have it backed up with an award like this.”

Avogrey Orchard was founded in 1969 by the couple, building on a family legacy dating back more than a century.

David’s father, Len Grey, introduced the Hass avocado to New Zealand in the 1950s and was widely regarded as a pioneer. Grandfather Charles Grey first planted avocados in 1916.

AvoGrey Greenskins are grown by a select group of growers these days.

The fruit is available in the market through to mid-late May, with more growers now planting the variety and volumes expected to increase over the next five years.