Demands, made by consumers, are driving the way Ohakune commercial vegetable growers Bruce and Stephanie Rollinson produce and package their Brussels sprouts and parsnips. They supply sprouts to all Countdown supermarkets in the North Island, and other retailers, with these vegetables. They are also a significant grower of parsnips and supply directly to My Food Bag.
Bruce (BAgComm) and Stephanie (BAgSc) are both graduates of Lincoln University. Both come from farms: Bruce from a South Canterbury arable property and Stephanie a Hawkes Bay sheep and beef farm. Their farming backgrounds brought them back to the land to ensure their children were raised on a farm.
The couple has farmed their present property for 19 years and witnessed many changes including new environmental regulations. They say the changes in consumer demand have shaped their business, notably the expectation that food is produced sustainably, says Bruce.
They operate under NZ GAP (good agricultural practice), a Government approved quality programme under which they are independently audited by Asure Quality. He says they also get random checks on their chemical applications to ensure they are meeting withholding periods and residuals.
The crop itself has changed a lot because of consumer wants, it is learned. Essentially they want smaller, gourmet vegetables. In the past, there was demand for a large parsnip for the Sunday roast, but now people want smaller parsnips and Brussels sprouts.
Management in the field is vitally important so that most products are the correct size and blemish free, he says. Rollinson believes the change to producing smaller Brussels sprouts has led to a resurgence in this vegetable. People were often put off by large fluffy sprouts that were not always as fresh as they are today due to the auction system which delayed the movement of product to consumers.
