TROPICAL FRUIT GROWERS OF NEW ZEALAND
Inspiring Sustainable and Profitable Agriculture in New Zealand
TROPICAL FRUIT GROWERS OF NEW ZEALAND
Not only can we grow tropical plants in New Zealand, we can actually use our wonderful climate and our local expertise to bring new prosperity to New Zealand grown fruit.
Reclaiming the Tropical Fruit market with homegrown
OUR AIM
Tropical fruits are imported by the tonne into New Zealand, yet we are just a few steps away from supplying the bulk of the country's requirements-and with a much more nutritious product.
Watch Seven Sharp's TV feature on us for a great overview.
The numbers add add up
ECONOMICS
Northtec has prepared an economic study on the positive impact of co-ordinating and increasing Northland banana production so that we can supply the bulk of NZ's requirements for bananas and pineapples.
Innovation Well Underway
TROPICAL CLIMATE
Growers like our Green Guru Owen Schafli have already proved that Northland's climate can successfully grow pineapples, sugar cane, coffee, bananas and prickly pears on a commercial scale.
Warmer areas south of Auckland can most likely do this too.
The future of farming
TIME TO DIVERSIFY?
Bananas are worth a closer look given this season's cuts in the dairy payout. A cash crop to supplement farm income; benefits for effluent mitigation; stems and foliage create stock feed; a better use of land that can only support lighter stock weight - and bananas self-propagate over time.
WANT TO BECOME A MEMBER?
There are two levels of involvement - commercial growers who are Association members, and hobby growers.
1) If you are a commercial grower, and tropical fruitgrowing is part of your business, please pay $100 to Kiwibank 38-9019-0465466-01, with your name as the reference. This covers membership till 31 March 2024. Email tfgnzinfo@gmail.com to let us know you've made your payment and tell us your name, email address, address and mobile number so we can stay in touch with you and add you to the members-only Facebook group.
2) If you are a hobby grower, you can join our private Facebook group free of charge although you won't be a member of the Association. Please email tfgnzinfo@gmail.com your name, email address, phone number and the area where you live. We will allocate you a number which you'll need to apply to join the private Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/TropicalFruitGrowersNZ
We also have a popular free/public group called 'Banana Growers of NZ' you can join - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BananaGrowersNZ and a public page https://www.facebook.com/TropicalFruitGrowersNZ
THE TEAM
2023-24 committee
HUGH ROSE
Chair
Boutique banana plantation owner, plant procurer.
SCOTT MORISON
Treasurer
Scott runs a property valuation firm in North Auckland, while also developing Exotica NZ – an online nursery and exporter specialising in subtropicals
PAULINE ROSE
Secretary
Uber Group (broadband) COO, lotus grower
OWEN SCHAFLI
Committee Member
Founding committee member, tropical fruit guru
GRAEME HIRST
Committee Member
Horticulturalist
BARRY PYLE
Committee Member
Retired environmental microbiologist from Ruakaka.
KRIS ROBINSON
Committee Member
Tropical fruitgrower with a background in Agri Finance and Commerce.
ALEX EDWARDS
Committee Member
IT specialist and horse trekking business owner with an interest in tropical fruits.
AARON MILLAR
Committee Member
Tropical fruit grower and adviser
ED HAYES
Committee Member
Plantation owner
WHAT WE PROVIDE MEMBERS WITH
Knowledge. Support. Plant Stock.
We provide knowledge and expertise as well as a place where members can trade plants. Join us for one of our popular
plantation tours and meet other members.
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OUR SPONSORS
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