For those of you who have waited so patiently we are delighted to say that we have blueberries, red and brown onions now available.
The blueberries have had a slow start due to the cooler temperatures and the rain hasn’t helped either. Like other berry fruit, blueberries split after heavy rain.
Rain doesn’t help the onions as they need a good drying period after they have been lifted - before being picked up. Our staff have had some very long days, working incredibly hard to get the first lot of onions in the shed, before the next lot of rain has arrived!
Like most holiday makers we would now like a long, hot, dry summer as we continue to harvest our crops.

The team at ‘True Earth” would like to wish you all a very happy and prosperous New Year. To our customers, friends and family in Christchurch our thoughts are with you through this very trying time!
KIA KAHA!

I would imagine that most of you who read this, would be unaware that “True Earths” greatest competition is from the countries prisons. Every year we grow and harvest our crops employing between 10 and 70 seasonal staff. Labour being the biggest cost on an organic farm.
We sell our produce at what we feel is a fair price, given that we would like to make a small profit that can go back into the business, to help in the years when weather is not kind to us and yields are down! And like all businesses we need to reinvest in our business.
However every year we come up against the same issue - competing against the prisons selling their produce at a price much lower than ours! Now I can hear you say that is great for the consumer which I agree - however how do we compete and stay in business? As realistically they are not growing the produce at the true cost, remembering we have to pay our hard working staff.
Now don’t get me wrong I am all for prisoners learning a trade that can help them rehabilitate once they leave prison. But should it be at the cost of a small business trying to keep its head above water in these trying times!
I would love to hear your feedback on this issue!

A campaign to keep Hawke’s Bay GE Free was launched in June by a cross-section of HB growers led by John Bostock, Scott Lawson, Bruno Chambers and Will MacFarlane. Their organization is called Pure Hawke’s Bay.

Says Bostock: “We have a market advantage now in being GE free. All our markets are clearly telling us they don’t want to eat genetically modified foods. We need to listen very carefully to that and simply pick up the benefit by celebrating our current GM free status. This has to be the lowest cost best opportunity right in front of our eyes to create value for every Hawke’s Bay producer, business and the whole community. We all will benefit from Hawke’s Bay being positioned at the top end. We need to secure and promote our regional brand of sustainable, highest quality, GE free produce.”

Pure Hawke’s Bay
Vision Statement
Pure Hawke’s Bay represents a growing number of growers and producers who propose this vision for Hawke’s Bay: we see Hawke’s Bay as a food producing region of world renown, famous for producing food sustainably, with integrity.
Across the region, farmers, growers, wineries and food processors are working hard to develop products of quality. In a world of increasing competition, we will need to work hard to earn a singular reputation as a premium food producing region and set our products apart.
Building and capitalizing upon that reputation will depend on perceptions and branding as well as ability to demonstrate, unequivocally, that the region is committed in practice, not just in word, to sustainability. Consumer resistance to GM foods in many of our key markets is strong and growing.
Within that context, our greatest concern is the risk that genetically modified (GM) food production and outdoor field trials involving GMOs might be introduced to the region. This would have devastating consequences for food exporters and would damage the Bay’s brand in international markets. Many growers would lose markets, forfeit market premiums and buyer confidence.
And while we respect the right of each farmer/grower to make their own decisions about what approaches best suit their land and production, we are all in this together – if field use of GMOs resulted in contamination of other crops, which we believe would be inevitable, this damage would be irreversible. Given consumer and buyer perceptions about contamination, a decision by an individual grower or farmer would affect all food producers and processors in the region.
Consequently, for the foreseeable future (we propose ten years), Pure Hawke’s Bay endorses a prohibition on GM field trials and food production in Hawke’s Bay. And we call for this to be ratified in the District Plans of our five territorial councils, as well as in the Regional Policy Statement of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council.
It is undisputed that local authorities may secure the region’s GM free food producer status under the Resource Management Act. National legislation does not ensure our ability to seize this opportunity for the region – the regulator could approve a release here at any time irrespective of whether it is in the region’s interest to remain GM Free.
In proposing a ‘moratorium’ on GM introduction to Hawke’s Bay, we are not opposing continued laboratory research into genetic modification. That said, irrespective of any merits of the science, the market reality is stark: for now GM is simply not wanted by many of our high value markets, and in this competitive market, overseas buyers will take their business elsewhere if they perceive a risk of contamination. Meantime, many other scientific and technological innovations can be pursued to advance the productivity of our farming and the quality of our produce.
Preserving Hawke’s Bay’s current status as a GM Free food producer is not just about risk. It is about opportunity. Announcing to the world that Hawke’s Bay is a GM free food producer would be a foundation stone of our reputation as a trusted source of premium, high quality food, where growers are closely aligned to the values and aspirations of our customers.

Today, food grown in New Zealand is GE-free - let’s keep it natural. Genetic Engineering (GE) re-combines genetic elements from viruses, bacteria, plants and animals, to form genetically modified organisms (GMOs)- which can become a living pollution.
GE can be controlled - if kept inside the lab for medicine and ethical uses - but outside the lab GE is a serious threat to our food, environment and economy.

A big congratulation to James Beck - Chef Extraordinaire at Taste Cornucopia in Hastings for his win in the Judge’s Choice casual dining section of the Regional Signature Dish Awards on Tuesday night.
James is a great supporter of our produce and all local organic produce. So well done James!

Look out for our new season carrots in store now.
We started harvesting two weeks ago and are thrilled with the quality of them.
Remember these are ideal as a healthy snack in your children’s lunch box or your own for that matter!
Our blueberries and onions are growing well and all going to plan will be available in December. This year we will have Red Onions as well.

We love frosts in Hawkes Bay as they always produce the most glorious days after. And of course in nature we need them!
However at this time of the year our blueberries are just bursting into bud, and they certainly do not enjoy a frost.
So consequently some long nights are spent protecting these plants. We use overhead sprinklers and ice encases the plants keeping the core temperature correct and protecting those buds. It is quite beautiful. But like last week when we had five frosts in a row this means a lot of sleepless nights!

Just a short note to let you know that Scott and Vicki feature in the May/June issue of the NZ Life and Leisure Magazine.
A fascinating insight in to what makes this farming family tick!

It is with regret that we are letting you know that we will not be growing potatoes in the 2011 season. This difficult decision is due to the impact of the psyllid pest. This pest which came into New Zealand over four years ago has taken its toll on our potato crops, and we have battled with it since November 2008.
The biggest impact for us has been on the size and quality of our potatoes, and of course the economic viability. We pride ourselves on producing quality certified organic vegetables and berry fruit, and have become compromised with our potato crop.
Ever since the introduction of the psyllid pest we have spent considerable monies and energy into finding a solution, but to date in vain. We have had many scientists and researchers on our property, trying to get to the bottom of the problem. One prominent scientist believes that the answer will be found organically. We hope this will be sooner rather than later.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your wonderful support of our “true earth” potatoes