Carrots for export plan draws growers together

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 624, 20 February 1996, Page 1

Carrots for export plan draws growers together

By

Rachel

wllliams

Anew contract export carrot packing house was opened in what used to be the King Country Energy depot in Old Station Road on Wednesday last week. The packing house is owned and operated by Mountain Carrots, a joint venture between four local growers and a Gisborne-based company, Sunrise Coast. Managing director of Sunrise Coast, Tim Crisp, told the gathering of around 100 people that the aim of the new packing house was to turn carrots into an export product. Mr Crisp said the company had gone overseas to research machinery that would specifically handle Koya variety carrots and the resulting pack house has a plant capacity of 50 export tonnes per day. Extensive market research was undertaken and Mr Crisp said the results show that in the long term the international market, particularly Asia, is very attractive. The short term international market could be fickle, but Sunrise Coast hoped to overcome this problem by aiming for the niche market and avoiding commodity trading. Mr Crisp said Sunrise Coast thinks there are tangible links between tourism and trade and the company wants to capitalise on this.

He concluded his speech by thanking everyone who had been involved in the project and "those who have been patiently waiting for us to realise our dreams".

"In the past carrot growers in this area have been competiti ve, and it' s good to see an outsider pull us together," added Ray Turn to Page 2

Export carrots

FROMTAGE 1 Wilson, who is a part-owner of Mountain Carrots along with Kim Young and Sons, Ken Sue Jo and Sons, the Chan family and Sunrise Coast. Garrick Workman in a role of past Mayor, was asked to say a few words. He said he had come to know of the project as staff for Mountain Carrots and Sunrise Coast had been staying at the Hobbit Motor Lodge over the past few months. Mr Workman thanked Mr Crisp for establishing Sunrise Coast and Mountain Carrots, and added that this was the second time he had opened this building. Mr Workman reminded the audience that the original Chinese settlers had established carrots in this area, and carrots had put Ohakune on the map well before tourism. The company will employ 20 staff. "We wish the company well, I am sure they will do well," he concluded.