Reliable Testing – A Vital Piece of the Puzzle for Direct Management Services to Support Avocado Growers
When you cut into a perfectly ripe avocado, you probably don’t think about the science behind it. For Direct Management Services (DMS), that science is everything.
Based in the Bay of Plenty, DMS supports nearly 500 kiwifruit and avocado growers across the North Island’s key horticultural regions. What began 36 years ago as a humble kiwifruit orchard management company soon expanded into packing services. The business later diversified into avocados and now packs more than a million avocados annually across its packhouses. Today, the Avocado Client Services team has grown to five members, continuing to strengthen relationships with growers and support the company’s operations.
Where Sciences Meets the Growing Cycle
Behind the scenes, a constant rhythm of activity keeps the entire growing cycle moving. Even when picking stops, the work continues. Growers work year-round for each harvest, with DMS supporting key services such as pruning, fertilising, pest monitoring, and preparing for the next season. Testing is a pivotal part of those services, helping to drive decisions.
Their avocado testing programs include soil and leaf testing in March and April. After winter comes dry matter, maturity testing, and then up to harvest, the fruit undergoes residue, heavy metal, and skin nutrient testing. Testing also determines where fruit can go, which markets it can enter, and how quickly growers can begin harvesting for export.
“The quicker you get the answer for what you’re looking for in any way, shape or form. It’s really important to us because we can move onto the next step, and that’s the next piece in the puzzle,” Avocado Business Manager Hamish McKain said.
Hill Labs offers customised multi-residue suites driven by the NZ Avocado Industry for avocado customers and catering to heavy metals testing with the same turnaround time as residues. As residue testing is guided by market requirements, Hill Labs collaborates closely with the industry to ensure specifications remain current.
From Compliance to Confidence
Since partnering with Hill Labs three years ago, Hamish said the team noticed a real difference in the process. Testing was faster, simpler, and more reliable, and confidence soared.
“We trust we are going to get the results that we need. Timing is critical for the whole harvest process otherwise contractors would be delayed, growers can’t pick, market orders are not packed in time and shop shelves are empty,” explains Hamish.
The partnership extends beyond just lab reports. Hill Labs works with DMS to navigate changing regulations, including recent water testing requirements. Integrating these new processes into day‑to‑day operations presented challenges, but with support from the Client Services team at Hill Labs, DMS can introduce the changes effectively for their growers.
Logistics can also be demanding across such a large geographic area, particularly when samples need to be sent from remote orchards. Hill Labs helps DMS manage these situations by providing practical solutions where possible.
“Just the sheer magnitude of the area we cover makes some logistics challenging, so being pre-prepared, and having Hill Labs assist by ensuring sampling kits reach remote locations via courier, is amazingly helpful.”
The connection between both Hill Labs and DMS also goes beyond operational support. The family‑owned, local nature of Hill Labs resonates with DMS, which holds similar values around looking after clients and staff.
“When you are that type of company, you align with that type of thinking.”
For DMS, testing isn’t just about compliance. It’s about growth. Every result drives a decision, every decision shapes a market, and those decisions happen with confidence and speed. As Hamish puts it: “The little things go a long way.”
