POTATO SEED CO-OP OPENS NEW STORAGE FACILITY IN ASHBURTON Words by Heather Woods
Michelle Pye, one of four directors of the Potato Seed Co-operative, talked us through their goals, which are increased seed quality and cost efficiency, and their decision to back themselves through construction of a purposebuilt potato-seed store. Michelle was recently co-opted onto the Board of Potatoes NZ and has a broad industry perspective ripe for crosspollination of information. She says she simply wants to add value with her experience. In her opening night speech, Michelle said: “You reap what you sow. I couldn’t be prouder of what we have all achieved.” That seed was sown back in 2016 when McCain decided not to supply seed to the process potato growers any longer, and so creating a grower group seemed like the obvious solution. Not only would it help to spread risk, but efficiencies in the form of shared resources and a dedicated general manager would benefit everyone. There were growers with cutting facilities in Timaru, growers considering an exit and growers not looking to invest capital. The challenge: a way forward that worked for everyone.
THE NEW FACILITY COMPRISES TWO 3,000 SQUARE-METRE COOLSTORES WITH CAPACITY FOR 8,000 TONNES OF SEED
Future-proofed storage solution officially opens With their main storage facility in Timaru no longer an option, the Potato Seed Co-operative opted to build their own. The new facility comprises two 3,000 square-metre coolstores with capacity for 8,000 tonnes of seed, plus an office and tea-room block, weighbridge and a tunnel house for winter grow-outs. The storage facility is built in two sections facing each other, covering 2.255 hectares altogether. This site design allows drive-through access. General manager Ken Small project managed the build – on time and on budget – and was instrumental to its success. He and a supporting store manager will now be looking after the day-to-day operations so the group can focus on seed quality. Additional staff are hired as needed, such as forklift drivers and engineers; and cutting and grading now happen entirely on site.
POTATO OF THE MONTH: BELLINDA
Early main season table potato, reliable yield, superb combination of texture and taste NORTH ISLAND Suresh Wallabh M +64 21 153 3089 E suresh@eurogrow.co.nz
Tony Hendrikse M +64 29 96 88 237 E tony@eurogrow.co.nz
SOUTH ISLAND Elliott Lovegrove M +64 27 380 3080 E elliott@eurogrow.co.nz
the original suppliers of Agria 56 NZGROWER : AUGUST 2021
