More than 1000 avocado aficionados will cast their vote this afternoon for the lucky country which will host the next World Avocado Congress.

The winner of the rights to the 11th Congress will be announced in a broadcast live from the Aotea Centre, Auckland at 3.30pm.

The announcement marks the official end of the 10th World Avocado Congress, hosted by New Zealand, which has attracted the single largest international delegation to a horticulture event on our shores.

Held over three days, local hosts welcomed attendees from 32 countries who joined key representatives from our local avocado industry for a packed programme of activities.

Jen Scoular, President of the World Avocado Congress Committee and CEO of New Zealand Avocado, says the timing's perfect for our country to host such an important global event.

'It is a challenging time to be commercially sustainable, we just can't just hope something improves, we need to do something about it! This week has enabled important conversations to take place, with our exporters meeting their customers in one place and further strengthening their relationships'

The Congress also offers an unprecedented opportunity to promote our local avocado industry to the world.

In 2019 New Zealand was one of three countries to put forward a bid for the hosting rights for the 2023 event.

'Our bid was up against Mexico, the largest avocado exporter in the world, and Kenya, the sixth largest exporter of avocados globally. Held every four years, previous congresses have been hosted in Colombia, Peru, Australia and Chile.'

Avocados in New Zealand by the numbers:

• 1400 growers
• 1800 orchards
• 5000 hectares of production
• $234m industry value 2020-21
• 7.5 – 9 million 5.5kg trays per annum
• 11.7 tonnes average yield per hectare
• 13 licenced exporters
• 12 packing facilities
• 14 international markets