The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and New Zealand Avocado growers have announced avocados are close to being exported to China.
Negotiations on a protocol to agree on export requirements for avocados between MPI and China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine have concluded.
An audit on New Zealand's regulatory system for export will now be conducted around December 2017.
Importation of avocados is expected to be a large market for NZ, with $155.5 million worth of avocados imported into Australia, Japan, Singapore, Korea and Thailand in 2016/17.
"Our aim is to create a globally competitive, high-value, sustainable horticulture industry delivering real returns to New Zealand," says Tony Ponder, chair of the New Zealand Avocado Growers Association.
"We're well on the way towards this, and access to China for our avocados will play a big part."
New Zealand currently exports plums, cherries, kiwifruit, citrus, persimmons and apples to China.
Newshub.
