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While some teenagers can be problematic, others are as good as gold. A chip off the old block – and off newer blocks too – 14-year-old Potatoes NZ has regularly met with expectations among Franklin farmers.
Today (April 17), marks the birthday of Potatoes NZ, an organisation that’s sought to make the most of a staple crop even when the chips are down.
“This birthday comes at a time when many growers are under real pressure,” the group’s Kate Trufitt says. “Input costs remain high, markets are tight and uncertainty continues to weigh heavily across the sector.
“While it’s important to acknowledge how far we’ve come as an organisation, our focus is firmly on supporting growers through the challenges they are facing right now – with practical tools, strong advocacy, and science‑based solutions that help build resilience for the future.”
Established in 2012, the organisation began with a collective effort to represent growers and it has since grown to provide a national voice championing potatoes, Trufitt says.
From research programmes improving crop performance and investing in protection against pests and disease to working with government and other partners to support the long‑term viability of potato production in New Zealand.
