We grow garlic and shallots ‘the right way’, and we are consistently looking to improve our production techniques. In New Zealand we have the advantage of clean air, clean water and clean soils to grow our food in.

We are lucky we don’t have to grow our vegetables in a smog-filled polluted environment. Maybe growing food in a polluted environment is why some imported food has bland taste and is bleached to make it look better!

Garlic is traditionally planted on the shortest day of the year, and harvested on the longest day of the year. We plant and harvest our garlic later in August/September because the varieties we use have adapted to New Zealand conditions over time. Garlic grows from a clove which dies over the course of the growing season, leaving in its place a shoot which in 6 months time becomes a bulb. Marlborough’s sunny but chilly winter conditions give garlic an ideal opportunity to grow well.

We plant garlic by machine and use a mix of machine and human labour for harvest. During harvest the leafy part of the plant is topped. Following time drying in the sun in the paddock, our garlic is cured using forced air dryers specifically built for drying garlic.

Garlic requires very little chemical insecticide and pesticide spraying compared to other crops. Our growers are accredited under New Zealand’s GAP standard (Good Agricultural Practice – see www.newzealandgap.co.nz). This means that we accurately record all chemical application, and use advanced quality assurance standards. We use approved fertiliser that is appropriate for food production.

Before our garlic is ready for the market, the roots are clipped by hand and the product is cleaned in our pack house. Our field and pack-house staff are absolutely key to our operation. Their hard work and attention to detail ensures that quality product reaches your plate.

We are constantly looking for better ways to grow and pack your food. Our goal is to provide a healthy quality product in a sustainable and efficient manner. We have various projects under way to improve the way we do things:

• Field yield Initiatives
• Electricity Efficiency
• Organic programme development
• Seed projects (provide higher yield garlic)