Cultivating compliance success

How Cucumber’s digital solutions reduced the pain of increased compliance and regulatory changes for NZ Avocado

NZ Avocado, established in 1980 and located in Tauranga, collaborates closely with 1800 growers, packers, and marketers to advance the industry's vision of optimising grower profitability. Their multifaceted approach includes coordinating industry research programs and providing a supportive framework for industry development.

NZ Avocado plays a crucial role in coordinating and disseminating industry information. They also engage with the government, advocating for consistent and enabling policy to meet the needs of growers. NZ Avocado manages quality standards, export-grade criteria and compliance programmes that guide growers, pack houses, and exporters.

The Challenge: Modernising compliance management

Regulations to meet export compliance are established by the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) and extend right through the supply chain. NZ Avocado's existing management tool was outdated, with notable limitations in usability and design. "Our previous spray diary was too narrow in focus to cater for all industry compliance requirements," said NZ Avocado CEO Brad Siebert. " We wanted to provide our growers with a personalised approach to see the information and resources relevant to their business."  

Realising the need for an effective and modernised approach, NZ Avocado sought a digital partner to spearhead the development of a new grower portal and a digital spray diary replacement. This initiative aimed not only to alleviate the complexities of compliance but also to empower growers with an intuitive, user-friendly solution tailored to contemporary standards. 

The solution: AvoHub and AvoDairy

The team at Cucumber began with an analysis to understand what was involved in replacing NZ Avocado's spray diary. Our objective was to develop a comprehensive solution designed to ease technical complexities for growers while ensuring compliance and reporting aligned with industry standards.

"We needed something that could capture, manage and report a significant more amount of data in an easy-to-use interface," Brad explains. With these two goals in mind, AvoHub and AvoDiary were conceived. "As with all IT projects there was a long planning phase that proved valuable," Brad recalls. "There were also challenges as we sought to find the most efficient approach to having a CRM/database that would house the significant amount of data. This ended with the addition of another IT partner where an off-the-shelf CRM was utilised with the AvoHub and AvoDiary surfacing this data."

AvoDiary
AvoDiary acts as a robust compliance repository, handling the intricacies of orchard management. Growers are required to record every instance of chemical or fertiliser application, with the system automatically determining factors such as the earliest harvest date and the need for residue tests. This record-keeping is essential for export orchards, requiring export clearance before any fruit can be harvested. AvoDiary's functionalities extend to:

  • Export market dynamics - managing the complex relationship with 14 export markets, considering approved chemicals and permissible levels

  • Pest monitoring - recording pest information, influencing market acceptance and spray requirements based on certain pest thresholds

  • Residue test results - determining fruit suitability for specific markets, even with restricted chemical applications

  • Harvest scheduling - aligning fruit eligibility with market requirements, incorporating various factors for precise decision-making.

AvoDiary involves complex business logic, interweaving these diverse factors. Accuracy is crucial, as any misstep can significantly impact both growers and the broader avocado industry.   

AvoHub
AvoHub serves as a centralised portal, enabling avocado growers nationwide to register their orchard for export. This platform ensures accurate landowner information, facilitates payment of export registration, and captures growers' agreement to terms and conditions. Essentially, AvoHub is a unified register, encompassing all avocado growers engaged in export activities across the country.

"The AvoDiary is arguably one of the best spray diaries in the sector"

Brad Siebert

CEO, NZ Avocado

The result - A modernised compliance experience

The implementation of AvoHub and AvoDiary has resulted in a range of positive outcomes, going beyond individual growers. The digitalisation of spray, pest monitoring, and fertiliser records has not only streamlined packhouse harvest processes but has also revolutionised export compliance, ensuring market access. "For growers it has provided an easier interface to input data," says Brad. "And AvoHub has allowed for protected access to industry resources and allowed growers to complete a number of previously paper based market access declarations."

Both internally and externally, the implementation of AvoHub and AvoDiary has met with positive feedback, as they are user-friendly and innovative. "The AvoDiary is arguably one of the best spray diaries in the sector," says Brad.

Looking ahead, NZ Avocado remains committed to innovation. AvoDiary is slated for continuous improvement, catering to diverse needs across the supply chain. Additionally, AvoHub is set to expand its offerings, evolving into a comprehensive gateway for tailored industry resources that meet the unique requirements of individual growers.

The results underscore the success of the solution in transforming compliance processes, enhancing grower experiences and laying the foundation for ongoing advancements within the avocado industry.

If NZ Avocado's story has got you thinking about your own digital journey and what needs to be modernised then please get in touch - we'd love to have a chat with you about your goals.