The Australian avocado industry has today launched a virtual reality (VR) supply chain training program, partnering with Woolworths on retail training components, to support consistent handling from orchard to retail shelf. The program underpins the industry’s commitment to delivering consistent, high-quality avocados and strengthening consumer confidence and purchasing.

Funded by Hort Innovation through the avocado research and development levy, with contributions from the Australian Government, the Australian Avocado Industry Virtual Reality Training Program (AV24010) program uses VR scenarios to simulate real-world environments across the supply chain, from orchard through to retail in-store handling. Accessible via VR headsets, mobile and tablet, the program provides a consistent, scalable way to upskill workers and embed best-practice handling at every stage, to deliver high quality and consistent Australian avocados.

The VR training program was launched at Avo Connections in Adelaide this week, where attendees from the Australian avocado industry were among the first to trial the picking and packing modules - following 12 months of collaboration between industry and Woolworths.

Global first end-to-end supply chain VR program will deliver long-lasting results

Through immersive, interactive VR scenarios, the program will equip avocado farm staff, orchard managers, pack house staff and retail team members with the practical skills needed to manage quality, temperature and avocado handling throughout the supply chain.

By immersing trainees into realistic environments across orchard and packhouse, VR builds muscle memory and confidence in best-practice techniques, while addressing the longstanding challenge of workforce turnover and seasonal labour variability, through a scalable, repeatable training solution. From a retail perspective, the aspiration is to train around 18,000 Woolworths in-store Fruit & Veg Managers and team members to develop an even better understanding of the avocado supply chain delivering quality avocados to supermarket customers.

Global research by PwC shows VR learners can complete training up to four times faster than traditional methods and are significantly more confident in applying what they’ve learned.

Learning outcomes will help to deliver a consistent supply of high-quality Australian avocados to consumers by reducing handling damage and waste and ultimately increase consumer confidence and repeat purchase.

Hort Innovation CEO, Brett Fifield, praised the collaborative efforts of industry: “This is another great example of innovation in collaboration, bringing growers, supply chain partners, including Woolworths, and technology together to invest in solutions for a shared challenge and lift industry performance. By using virtual reality to build practical, on-the-ground skills, we’re improving quality, reducing waste and strengthening demand for Australian avocados.”

Avocados Australia’s CEO, John Tyas, said the program marked a step-change in industry training programs due to the programs’ ability to be rolled out at scale in an effective and efficient manner.

“Each member of our supply chain, from farm to retail, plays a critical role in delivering high quality Australian avocados to consumers. This program aims to standardise training at each point in the supply chain to deliver a more consistent eating experience for consumers and strengthen our industry’s commitment to delivering a high-quality and valued product”.

“The industry welcomed the opportunity to partner with Woolworths on the retail modules, where handling and merchandising play a critical role in quality outcomes. We look forward to seeing the program’s long-term positive impacts on our industry”.

Unique, practical training experience to boost supply chain practices

The retail focused training modules will train approximately more than 1,000 Woolworths Produce Managers nationally, providing access to an otherwise unattainable farm and packhouse experience and helping connect teams with the product and the growers behind this customer favourite.

Woolworths Commercial Director, Fresh, Louis Eggar, said the investment demonstrated the retailer’s commitment to partnering with the horticulture industry to showcase the very best of Australian produce.

“From growers right across the country, our horticulture industry produces the most consistently amazing quality fresh fruit and vegetables.

“As a retailer, we’re keen to support truly innovative approaches like this that can give our teams a ‘real world’ understanding of the horticultural supply chain, from orchard to store.

“This is a genuinely collaborative, end-to-end program, built on the latest technology, that will really enhance our commitment to delivering the quality avocados our customers demand and expect.”

Data to drive ongoing improvement

The program will deliver tailored VR training modules for orchard, pack shed and retail environments, supported by analytics to measure training effectiveness both on farm and in-store.

Co-designed key performance indicators developed collaboratively between the Australian avocado industry and Woolworths will track outcomes and drive continuous improvement through monitoring adoption rates, completion rates, knowledge and confidence levels. Secondary indicators such as display quality, waste trends and voice of customer insights will support assessment of implementation effectiveness.

This work will be further supported through monitoring sales data, handling consistency and customer feedback experience.

Rising consumer expectations on avocado quality, combined with ongoing labour turnover across the supply chain, are increasing the need for a scalable, consistent training solution that can be deployed nationally. This represents one of the most comprehensive training collaborations achieved between industry and retail partners for Australian horticulture.

Launch details

The program is in its final stages of completion and picking and packing modules will be made available through VR headsets and on both mobile and tablet from 1 July 2026.  Woolworths is expected to begin implementation across 1,100 stores nationally from 1 July. Australian avocado industry participants, interested in implementing the picking and packing program in their business, will receive further information on how to order and access the training modules via Australian avocado industry communication channels.

Acknowledgements

The Australian Avocado Industry Virtual Reality Training Program (AV24010) is funded by Hort Innovation using the avocado research and development levy and contributions from the Australian Government, with Reservoir Partners as the project lead and strategic delivery partner with VR production by Start Beyond.