AvoGreen® Standard

• All agrichemicals¹ used must be approved and applied at no more than the maximum rate given in the AIC Avocado Quality Manual and on the product label.
• Each spray should be supported by pest monitoring results. In certain cases alternative reasons can be used, for example:
  - information from previous or current harvest, OR
  - a specified AvoGreen® practice (see below).
• Pest monitoring has to be carried out by an accredited Monitor.
• All agrichemical applications used in producing an avocado crop must be recorded in the electronic spray diary for that P-PIN and the diary verified by the Packhouse before the crop is picked.
• The appropriate Pre-Harvest Interval given in the AIC Avocado Quality Manual for each agrichemical and market must be met.
• All persons spraying agrichemicals within an orchard in the AvoGreen® programme must have a current GROWSAFE certificate.
• Spray rigs must be well maintained (a legal requirement under the HSNO Act) and should be regularly calibrated and used as set up.

Below are some specific examples of when a spray is allowed without monitoring. Further situations will be investigated during the implementation phase for universal AvoGreen®

1. When the threshold for greenhouse thrips is exceeded, two sprays are allowed without intervening monitoring provided the second spray is applied between 14 and 30 days after the first (between 15 – 21 days is ideal).
2. When armoured scales are found at harvest,growers can use their reject analysis sheets showing armoured scales were found to ensure that at least one spray with a label claim against armoured scales is applied the following season. If no such spray has already been used against any other pest, or is intended, the harvest detection of scales serves to justify one application of a scale-killing agrichemical.
3. One leafroller spray is allowed after flowering and before the end of January due to this being a critical timing.

Other AvoGreen® Considerations

Although not an obligatory part of the current AvoGreen® system, the following aspects are good practice and fit with IPM principles.

• Coverage. Ensure all sprays applied result in maximum impact by checking that the coverage achieved matches the target area for the intended pest or disease
• Chemical choice. Where possible use sprays that are selective and have no or minimal impact on beneficial insects in preference to broad-spectrum pesticides. See selectivity grouping. However choice is at the grower’s discretion. Note that where sprays are needed against more than one pest, market forces and common sense favour the use of a single agrichemical. Market MRLs restrict the choices available.
• Water blasting. Where ever possible, clean fruit at packing with high-pressure water blasting. Use information from the last harvest, from pickers or from a “bin-in” inspection at the packhouse to determine the risk of contamination including by pests and other insects and mites. Water blasting not only reduces contamination but also can lower residue levels.
• Bee Safety. Protect bees and other pollinators by only spraying during flowering when it is essential, and following “bee-friendly” practices particularly when hives are present in your own orchard or any nearby property. This includes mowing the sward before spraying if it contains any flowers. Observe any restrictions on use given on the label of pesticides that may harm bees.