Temperature Controlled Horticulture
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Tuaropaki has a 5% shareholding in Gourmet Paprika Ltd, which is an export focused business specializing in the production and marketing of high quality and value produce to Asia, Australia, USA and Europe. Production facilities include glasshouses for capsicum at Kumeu, a blueberry farm in Hawkes Bay and orchard in Roxburgh. For distribution purposes, Gourmet Paprika has a packing warehouse and cool store facility close to Auckland Airport at Mangere. Tuaropaki Trust has a 25% share in the Gourmet Mokai joint venture, established on Tuaropaki land in December 2002, to own and operate state-of-the-art climate controlled glasshouses. Originally a 5.5 hectare glasshouse was established which produced capsicum and tomato for the export market, however strong market demand for vegetables, particularly in offshore markets, and confidence in local growing conditions resulted in the joint venture partners agreeing to construct an additional 6.2 hectare glasshouse. The new glasshouse produces its first crop in the 2007-2008 year. The geothermally heated glasshouse uses a hydroponic method where each plant is individually fed with water and fertiliser. Growth is further enhanced by heat from geothermal fluids obtained from Tuaropaki's well MK2. 50% of the joint venture is owned by Gourmet Paprika Ltd, who has experience in glasshouse operations and is responsible for glasshouse development and marketing of produce. Pikopiko is a research and development project to determine how to best grow, package and market pikopiko as a premium food product for the local and export market. Propagation techniques have been determined and the project is now focusing on growing methods and examining requirements for commercialisation. It is yet to be determined if this project can be developed to a scale to provide sufficient volume for export markets. Tuaropaki Trust is a 16% shareholder in Vinoptima Estates Ltd, an established Gewurtztraminer vineyard and winery at Ormond, Gisborne. The vineyard is 9.7ha and is expected to produce 78,000 bottles of Gewurtztraminer, primarily for the export market. Brian Hauauru Jones (Chairman) [for Tuaropaki Trust]
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