Technical Info

Glossary:

  • Action Threshold – The level of pests found which signals that intervention is recommended. The threshold varies with the pest.

  • AvoGreen® - AvoGreen® is a responsible and auditable avocado production system which uses the principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to ensure pesticides are used only when needed.

  • Combined Sample Area – a group of up to five small orchards in one locality that have sufficiently similar tree size and orchard management and have a combined total productive area of less than five hectares. Orchards within 1km of a central point could be considered for combining. At least one tree from each orchard must be sampled on each orchard in each monitoring round.

  • Export Marketing Strategy (EMS) - Document which details the obligations of Growers, Packers and Exporters who are operating to export New Zealand avocado.  The existenece of the EMS is a requirement of being a Recognised Product Group (which the AIC is) under the Horticultural Export Authority Act 1987.

  • GROWSAFE® certificate – The certificate states that the holder: “Has met the assessment requirements of the New Zealand Agrichemical Education Trust for the GROWSAFE® Introductory Certificate and is competent to apply agrichemicals safely and accurately, in accordance with the New Zealand Standard NZS8409, Management of Agrichemicals”. source: www.growsafe.co.nz

  • Integrated Pest Management System (IPM) - the management of pests (including diseases) using a combination of methods to reduce the dependence on pesticide sprays and so minimise adverse effects on people and the environment. There is an emphasis on biological control and economic action thresholds.

  • AvoGreen® Lite - A monitoring schedule adjusted to reflect a low crop - where intensive monitoring may not be deemed to be economically viable.

  • AvoGreen® Monitor - An AvoGreen® Monitor is a person who undertakes to monitor an orchard under the AvoGreen® Monitoring Protocol and meets the requirements to be accredited.

  • AvoGreen Monitoring agreement – Contract between Operator and Grower for Operator to undertake monitoring on Grower's behalf. This must specify:
    • Whether the orchard is to be monitored as one or more Sample Areas;
    • An agreed frequency or schedule of monitoring;
    • The number of trees to be monitored;
    • Whether scale is to be monitored or not;
    • A traceable start date for the commencement of monitoring; and
    • Whether a monitoring round can be terminated once the threshold of the target pest is exceeded.

  • AvoGreen®  Monitonitoring Protocol - Describes the regulations and procedures for AvoGreen monitoring

  • AvoGreen® Monitoring Schendule - Plan of monitoring rounds for the season

  • AvoGreen® Operator - An AvoGreen® Operator is a business which provides monitoring services to avocado growers and meets the requirements to be accredited.

  • AvoGreen® Owner/Operator - An AvoGreen® Owner/Operator undertakes monitoring on an orchard they own or manage and meets the requirements to be accredited.

  • Orchard map – This is a key part of the Sampling Plan. It must show all orchard blocks, other significant landmarks and the AvoGreen® sampling areas.

  • Organic - Agriculture that does not use synthetic chemicals, genetic modification, or irradiation, using only natural products.
  • Sample Area - defined as a group of trees on an orchard that are largely the same in terms of pest risk and management so that they can be monitored as a single unit.

  • Sample Plan – a written plan that outlines the type of sampling being undertaken, when monitoring is to begin, the frequency or timing of subsequent monitoring, what will be recorded and whether monitoring can stop once the threshold is exceeded. It includes a map of the orchard. A template is available on the website.

 

Avocado Industry Council