Avocado Orchard · Maungatapere, Northland

Avo Haven:
From Run-Down to Record-Breaking Avocado Orchard

When Mark Rowlands purchased a 7.5-hectare avocado orchard as a retirement plan, he inherited 1600 trees suffering from Phytophthora and years of herbicide damage. Seven years later, using AgriSea Foliar applications, Avo Haven has transformed into a thriving operation producing what locals call "the best tasting avocados around."

7.5 Hectares1600 Avocado TreesUsing AgriSea Foliar"Best Tasting Avocados"

1600

Avocado Trees

7 Years

Transformation Journey

5-6x

Foliar Applications Per Year

5L/ha

AgriSea Foliar Rate

CUSTOMER STORY – AVO HAVEN, MAUNGATAPERE

A Nice Place to Live

Tucked up against the side of the mountain in Maungatapere is Avo Haven. "A nice place to live" says Mark Rowlands from Avo Haven. Mark purchased the orchard, Avo Haven, 7 years ago as a retirement plan. Mark, who is 74 does most of the work on the 7.5 hectare orchard containing 1600 avocado trees.

They initially purchased an orchard of 600 trees, then when the orchard next door became available, two years later, they bought this too and joined the two together and now operate them as one orchard. The trees on the orchard were 15-20 years old when they first purchased them and the orchard was run down. There were lots of sick trees with Phytophthora and a lot of the orchard had been badly pruned, or not at all.

Location

Maungatapere, Northland

Orchard Size

7.5 hectares

Number of Trees

1600 avocado trees

Tree Age at Purchase

15-20 years old

The Challenge: Healing Damaged Soil

The previous owner had used a lot of glyphosate on the orchard and Mark felt that the health of the soil biology really needed to be 'turned around' due to the damage done by the herbicide. Mark had been a fertilizer representative in the past and through the extensive trial work he has carried out with seaweed on farms, he knew that the answer to healing the soil microbiome lay with seaweeds.

"He knew that he didn't want to try imported seaweed powders, as they did not mix well and Mark wanted to buy a 'local' product."

– Mark Rowlands

Initial Challenges

Phytophthora Infection

Lots of sick trees suffering from Phytophthora disease

Herbicide Damage

Heavy glyphosate use had damaged soil biology

Poor Pruning

Trees had been badly pruned or not pruned at all

Run-Down Orchard

Overall neglect and poor orchard health

The Solution: AgriSea from Day One

He has been using AgriSea on his orchard from the start and has never looked back. At Avo Haven they use AgriSea Foliar spray, which enhances photosynthesis, thus increasing root exudates which feed the soil biology.

AgriSea Programme at Avo Haven

•AgriSea Foliar at 5L/hectare
•Applied 5 to 6 times per year
•Tank mixed with other sprays for efficiency
•Safe to spray on leaves and fruit with no withholding period
•Spraying when trees are budding up enhances fruit set

With diesel prices the way they are the cost of putting on a spray is expensive. Mark thinks carefully about what is coming up and what sprays can be mixed. AgriSea Foliar is tank mixed with each spray and enhances the performance of many of them.

The Results: Best Tasting Avocados Around

In addition to the benefit of turning around the health of the soil microbiome, the trees have also become increasingly pest resistant and the fruit production has increased. They have not had the thrip problem to the same extent as has been experienced by other orchards in the area.

"The orchard is now performing so well that Mark's advisor recently said to him that he should be using AgriSea on his own orchard after seeing the results Mark has had."

Key Improvements

Soil Microbiome Recovery

Soil biology turned around from herbicide damage

Increased Pest Resistance

Trees became more resistant to thrips and other pests

Improved Fruit Production

Production increased significantly over 7 years

Better Water Retention

Improved soil biology led to better water holding capacity

The Taste Factor

Avo Haven sells a percentage of their fruit at local markets and they are told they have 'the best tasting Avocado around'. Mark attributes this to AgriSea Foliar – people keep coming back and back for the creamy taste of the Avo Haven Avo.

"It is not just the fruit which is fabulous but also the avocado oil which is a more recent venture."

Avo Haven Foods at www.avohaven.co.nz

Additional Benefits

Although the orchard is irrigated they do not use it very much, now that the soil biology has improved so has the water holding capacity in the soil. The orchard is on a volcanic clay and is subject to many frosts.

Reduced Irrigation Needs

Irrigation system rarely needed due to improved water holding capacity

Premium Product Diversification

Expanded into avocado oil production through Avo Haven Foods

A Family Legacy

Although Mark does most of the day to day work, Mark's son does most of the pruning and the family will do the ground picking before getting the contractors in to pick the rest. Mark is not planning on stopping on the orchard just yet but when the time comes to hand over the reigns in this family trust his stewardship and his legacy of looking after the land will stand his successors in good stead.