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DARGAVILLE
High hopes for new crop u by Paul Campbell
A Kaipara harvest is about to become peanut butter in a development hailed as “new and exciting and putting the ‘kai’ back into Kaipara,” as a trial production gets underway in a collaboration between commercial interests and the Ministry for Primary Industries.
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“Some 60 kilograms have been harvested from the small trial plots near Dargaville,” says Pic’s Peanut Butter CEO, Stuart Macintosh. “I am taking 20 kilograms of these to Nelson, where we are based, to begin the process of trialling into our product — trying to make peanut butter. The taste test is an important step, and I am pretty confident.” Kaipara Mayor Jason Smith says the harvest marks a “new and exciting celebration of putting the kai back into Kaipara demonstrating the district’s potential for new production.” He added that a combination of projects now underway, including water storage and irrigation, fitted together to enhance regional potential. ”It’s action on the ground for the future crop development in the Kaipara,” said Dr Smith. The peanut trial involves Kaipara Kai and Plant and Food, who with Pic’s are looking to create a totally homegrown peanut product in the warm Northland soils instead of relying on costly imports. “We will plan a larger trial for next year, as we plan to check the values of other peanut varieties, and it may take more seasons, too,” said Mr McIntosh. Plant and Food Research science manager Declan Graham says he’d like to see several hectares planted in Kaipara and see an alternative cropping option for Northland. Growers could expect returns of “around $3,000 per tonne after drying and deshelling and sorting, which we
p The peanut project team from left: Farmer Allister McCahon, Declan Graham, Plant and Food Research, Paul Sorensen Farmlands, Josh van der Weyden PFR and Matt Punter Kaipara Kai
do not have a cost for because peanut processing is not yet done in NZ,” he said. ”We would aim for three to four tonnes per hectare, with more on irrigated land.” Pic’s Peanut Butter owner, Pic Picot, says the trials have the potential to reduce the company’s carbon footprint by redirecting millions of dollars spent on importing peanuts to growing them as well as substantially boosting local employment prospects. In another local development, KDC’s Kaipara Kai is inviting local food-related businesses to six business workshops designed to market product profitably. The result for those who participate will be a path-to-market action plan.
‘The purpose of the programme is to support Kaipara Kai Hub clients to build a solid business model and make money by getting your products into the hands of consumers,’ reads the invitation. ‘When: 11am to 1pm every Wednesday from May 5 until June 2. You can attend in person, online or catch up later by watching the recording. Sign up by emailing hello@kaiparakaihub. nz by May 3. Those who sign up before April 21 will be able to have a say in what the workshops cover and who the guest speakers are. Northland Inc has engaged local start-up business advisers, Get Better Problems, to deliver this programme.’ ¢
2021
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