Gill and Fred Willis of Talisker Orchard 

2025 Bay of Plenty Finalists: Gill and Fred Willis of Talisker Orchard – Avocados

From bare Land to bearing fruit: an avocado orchard success story 

Over the past 27 years, the owners of Talisker Orchard have transformed what was bare land into a thriving and productive Bay of Plenty avocado orchard. 

In 1997, Gill and Fred Willis bought the 8.5ha (4ha effective) property and started planting avocados. However, it has only been during the past few years that they have been able to work full time on the orchard, and today they manage five separately planted blocks. 

Successfully establishing a productive orchard from scratch is a testament to the couple’s dedication to sustainable practices and commitment to innovation. Prior experience in avocado growing initially equipped them with the knowledge they needed to navigate various challenges.  

Farming is a lifestyle for Gill and Fred – they rightly take great pride in owning and working the land and have raised their family there. 

They have implemented frost protection measures to protect the delicate trees, while soil moisture is closely monitored and managed. A drainage system was installed after a devastating flood in 2017, significantly improving tree health and minimising fertiliser leaching. Carefully managed irrigation is helping to optimise tree growth while minimising environmental impact. 

With the use of their own Hydralada, together with a contract pruner, a dedicated pruning regime has been established to maintain tree health, spray and picking efficiency, and enable more consistent production. The couple embraces cutting-edge technology, such as precision soil-moisture monitoring equipment, and look forward to drone-based spraying and tree monitoring capabilities. In addition, they have regularly participated in research trials for many years. 

The judges were impressed with the couple’s approach to pest management. They actively explore and implement a range of pest traps and management techniques, minimising the impact of pests on both the orchard’s productivity and the surrounding environment. 

Gill and Fred’s journey serves as an inspiration to others in the horticulture sector, demonstrating how a successful and sustainable business can be built from scratch.