On The Land
16 August, 2025
Mareeba to host regional forum for avocado growers
AVOCADO growers from across North Queensland are invited to a regional forum to be held in Mareeba later this month.
The NQ Avocado Grower Regional Forum will focus on crop management, with an array of experts set to speak at the one-day event to be held on 27 August at the Mareeba International Club.
Avocados Australia and the Hort Innovation-funded avocado industry development and extension project team are helping to deliver the event which will also include an orchard walk in the afternoon at Ceres Avocados.
Rocky Creek grower and Avocados Australia’s NQ director, Lawrence Masasso, will be present at the forum.
“I look forward to seeing all North Queensland industry participants at what promises to be a very interesting and informative day,” he said.
The forum will feature technical guest speakers such as Dr Gerhard Rossouw (QDPI) who is speaking on carbohydrate management, and Dr Stephen Trueman (Griffith University) on pollination and fruit set.
Other speakers include Bridie Carr (QDPI), David Bin (QDPI) and Hayleigh Dawson (Avocados Australia’s Market Development Manager).
“Technical content for the forum has been developed with direct input from NQ growers through the project’s dedicated NQ regional lead, David Bin,” Senior Extension Horticulturist at the Department of Primary Industries Queensland, Bridie Carr, said.
After the presentations the Grower Round Robin Sessions will provide growers with the chance to ask questions and find out more information directly from each of the speakers.
Avocados Australia chief executive officer John Tyas will be attending and presenting an Industry update at the forum.
He is recommending that all avocado growers attend the event as it promised to provide useful information, advice and resources.
“Events like these provide growers with the chance to fact find and source the best information to help them improve their businesses,” he said.
In 2023-24, Australian avocado growers produced 150,913 tonnes of the fruit, supplying all year round.
Of this volume, North Queensland avocado growers produced 21% or 32,342 tonnes.
All of the region’s avocado growers, their orchard staff and packers are invited to attend the free forum which goes from 8am to 3pm at the international club.
• To attend, go to www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1350500
