Commodity Levy

As the growers’ representative body for New Zealand avocado growers the NZAGA undertakes industry activities, such as research and development, food safety programmes and promotion on behalf of its growers. Currently the NZAGA collects a compulsory levy on the sale of local market and export avocados to fund industry activities. This levy is collected under the auspices of the Commodity Levies Act 1990.

The Commodity Levies Act was introduced in 1990.  The Act’s principal role is to provide a method to fund primary industry activities.  Under strict rules industry groups can elect to impose upon themselves a levy with legal backing. The Act requires the industry to consult with the potential levy payers and conduct a referendum every six years to determine if there is grower support for the levy.

Click here to download a Fresh Fruit Commodity Levy Form
 
Click here to download Oil Process Commodity Levy Form
 

Levy Rates

The rates for the levy are:
(i) For fresh local market it is a maximum of 3% of the local market value at the first point of sale. 
(ii) For export it is 15 cents per tray with a maximum of 50 cents per tray.
(iii) For processed fruit the maximum rate is 2% with an actual rate of zero.

The levy order sets the maximum rates however the actual rate may be set at a lower rate at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) each year.  So as levy payers, you will continue to have your say on the levy rates on an annual basis via the AGM process, irrespective of whether you are a member of the NZAGA.

Avocado Industry Council