Meet the Growers
John Bostock - JB Apples ltd
JB Apples Ltd has over 660 acres of fully certified organic orchards. John was the first New Zealand grower to embrace organic production on a commercial export basis, due to international demand for clean, healthy and safe fruit. The first orchard was fully certified in 1999. Today these orchards produce approximately 80% of conventional apple production. However, quality, taste, fruit sugars and crispness are noticeably better with organic apples. It is a philosophy of JB Apples Ltd to produce premium quality fruit in an environmentally and socially sustainable way. "Most importantly of all, organic apples are a healthy and a safe choice of consumers".
Brett and Paula Charlton
Brett and Paula Charlton are small organic farmers situated South of Hastings, growing apples (Royal Gala, Galaxy, Brookfield and Pacific Rose for export. Pacific Beauty is for the local market). High colour is a prominent feature of their apples resulting from the rootstock and soil type at this site. Brett and Paula bought this piece of land in 1995 and have developed the 4 hecters of organic orchard from bare land. They have also built their own home at the back of the orchard.
Brett and Paula have also started growing organic tomatoes. These high quality tomatoes are currently sold on the local market and there are plans to export. Organic farming is a lifestyle choice for Brett and Paula. For them living and raising a family in a safe, healthy and sustainable environment is of key importance.
Alice and Tim Peacock
Alice and Tim's orchard has been in the family for fifty years. It consists of twenty acres producing Royal Gala, Braeburn, Galaxy and Fuji apples. Alice and Tim's orchard was fully converted to a registered Organic orchard in 2001. This was done in an effort to produce higher value crops and create a healthy and safe environment for their children.
Alice and Tim are very proud to live in New Zealand and would like to play a part, in maintaining a clean, green environment through minimizing spraying, and becoming more efficient, utilising sustainable management practices.
Te Koha Orchard
Erin and Claire run a family owned Demeter certified organic Orchard, based on the bio-dynamic practices of Rudolph Steiner. Their orchard is situated on the sun drenched east coast of New Zealand. It consists of a variety of different organic apples, feijoas and some organic vegetables.
Erin and Claire are fully committed to a bio-dynamic and holistic approach to growing, and embrace all innovations and different management practices, to enhance bio-diversity.
Te Koha has a strong emphasis on soil health, using bio-dynamic preparations, composting and understory plantings, in the belief that improving soil health leads to healthy trees and healthy trees lead to great tasting, healthy food.
To find out more about this grower please go to http://www.tekoha.co.nz