Perfectly sized avocado orchard

The 6.5ha orchard is separated into eight blocks and enclosed by tree shelter belts. Photo / Supplied

The freehold land, buildings and infrastructure supporting a medium sized and well-established avocado orchard in the heart of Whangarei's foremost avocado growing district are due to go under the hammer early next month.

"The size of this orchard is perfect for a new owner-operator to run as-is," says Vinni Bhula, horticulture sales specialist with Bayleys Whangarei who is marketing 71 Highland Way, Maungatapere, for sale by auction at 1pm on December 5.

"Alternatively, a purchaser could be totally hands-off and have the orchard fully managed by a preferred exporter," Bhula says.

"With up to a three-year waiting list for new or replacement avocado trees from approved nurseries, this Maungatapere block represents an opportunity for immediate entry into the avocado sector, or for existing avocado orchardists in Northland to expand their operations."

The 6.5ha property on the western outskirts of Whangarei sits in a valley which was once a dairy and beef farming stronghold, but is now Northland's most concentrated centre of avocado and kiwifruit orchards due to the location's deep fertile volcanic soil base.

The orchard with its gentle sloping contour is planted with 706 trees, comprising Hass on Zutano rootstock. Production records over the past four seasons show the orchard has harvested between 9238 trays and 10,379 trays.

Bhula says the orchard is separated into eight well-sheltered blocks — all of which are enclosed by natural tree shelter consisting of Casuarina and Leyland Cypress.

He says that all fruit grown and picked at the orchard is transported to a commercial packhouse located 14km from the property, which grades and pack for both the domestic and export markets.

Irrigation on the property is supplied from the Maungatapere irrigation scheme, with water circulated across the crop via a fixed computerised sprinkler system. The area has an average annual rainfall of 1650mm, with an average annual temperature of 15.7C.

A catalogue of buildings linked to the Highland Way property and orchard is:

• a 258sq m five -bedroom home with its own office;
• a 144sq m three-bay shed/workshop with mezzanine floor and three-phase power;
• a small tractor storage shed; and a stand-alone agri-chemicals shed and filling station.

"A range of machinery and equipment used for running the orchard is not included in the land and buildings package offered for sale, but could be negotiated on separately by any potential purchaser."

New Zealand has around 1400 commercial avocado growers, with most production taking place north of the Bay of Plenty and delivering crop year-round, with the biggest volumes coming during the summer months, Government statistics show avocados are the third largest fresh fruit export from New Zealand.