I caught up with Andy by phone as he rode his quad bike back to the office What do you enjoy most about working in the potato industry and how do you maintain your enthusiasm? The thing about farming and growing crops is that every day is different. There are always challenges, which keeps you…
By Gemma Carroll, Communications and Engagement Officer It was 5-6 months in the making, but I am happy to say we had a rich and thought-provoking gathering for our biennial conference and AGM. It was two days covering all things R&D at our Agronomists Forum, brilliant minds, experts in their fields as keynotes at our…
These are the current projects for our Industry. A detailed list of current and completed projects, with the latest updates, can be found on our website in the R&D/Projects headings https://potatoesnz.co.nz/research-and-development/research-projects/ PNZ 1 PFR MBIE Realising Potato Export Value Lead Organisation: Plant & Food Research Objective: Understanding and manipulating insect behavior Population genetic variation of…
By Niki Bezzant I like to listen to RNZ’s Country Life programme on Saturday morning. It is a well-put-together slice of rural life, and a great way to learn about the fascinating people growing food in our beautiful country. The other morning I heard that farmers are feeling ‘under attack’. I take this to mean…
By Gemma Carroll As we wound our way down to Port Levy, although only an hour from Christchurch city, it felt a world away. The turquoise waters of the harbour as still as glass, under the mid-afternoon Winter sun. We are greeted at the entrance to the whare tipuna, by Manaia Cunningham, a decendant of…
Now is the time for inclusion and diversity across all industry and horticulture can lead the way. This is an abstract written by Melanie Mark-Shadbolt, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou, Te Arawa, Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Tūwharetoa. Melanie is CEO of Te Tira Whakamātaki, the Māori Biosecurity Network and spoke on these key…
Highly Productive Land Protection Announced last week, the Government is consulting on a draft National Policy Statement on Highly Productive Land. At the public release of the draft at Hira Bhana and Co Market Garden Growers in Pukekohe, Environment Minister David Parker said: “Continuing to grow food in the volumes and quality we have come…
ECan notified plan changes to the Canterbury Land and Water Plan on Saturday, 20th July. You may have seen this in the HortNZ newsletter already. The submission period ends on Friday 13th September. This provides us with 8 weeks to prepare and lodge submissions. The standard submission period is 4 weeks. However, the rural sector…
By Gemma Carroll The story goes that in 1853, at a Saratoga Springs diner, in New York, a wealthy and somewhat unpleasant customer sent his fried potatoes back to the kitchen, complaining that they were too soggy, and didn’t have enough salt. George Crum, the cook, in a fit of customer rage, sliced more potatoes…
By Gemma Carroll In recent media there has been a lot of noise about superfoods. A superfood is defined as being rich in compounds beneficial to a person’s health. It’s a nutrient dense food. It’s definitely time for our ‘humble’ spud to take it’s place in the spotlight. There has been too much chatter in…