| 37 Prime Limes HORTICULTURE Much of the crop now goes to juicing, supplying bars, restaurants, and producers like St Andrews. Whole green fruit still reaches supermarkets from Auckland to Queenstown, though Johnny says rising freight costs have added another layer of pressure this year. A new opportunity is emerging as consumers pay closer attention to food provenance. Johnny is in early talks with a well-known company seeking New Zealand-grown limes. Vietnamese limes have lowered shelf prices, but Johnny says their quality is inferior and the fruit is irradiated to eliminate pests – something he believes many consumers don’t realise. It’s a story he feels domestic growers need to tell more often. Though Prime Limes is not certified organic, Johnny says he relies on minimal spraying of natural oils and uses sheep to mow beneath the trees. “This company wants to buy our limes for that reason,” he says. “The Vietnam imports have definitely hurt the bottom line, but it just means you must work a bit smarter. Although, it’s probably taken longer than I would have liked to get these opportunities.” Balancing Prime Limes alongside his role as general manager of Berry Farms NZ, Johnny relies on his teenage children to pitch in when orders demand. “Prime Limes is very much a family operation. We might have a 100-kilogram or a 1,000-kilogram order, and we will just pick that ourselves over a weekend,” he says. “For larger orders, we have picking crews come in.” It’s hard work, but Johnny’s passion for horticulture hasn’t dimmed. “Farmers who produce food for New Zealanders are a certain type of person,” he says. “It’s seven days a week, so you have to enjoy it and be passionate.” For Prime Limes, the next chapter is unlikely to be about simply growing more trees. It is about growing a better business - one built around quality, provenance, relationships and finding the right market for a genuinely New Zealand-grown product. AGRICULTURAL CULTIVATION & SPRAYING SPECIALISTS DIRECT DRILLING - ROLLER DRILLING - POWER HARROW DRILLING - POWER HARROWING - DISCING PLOUGHING - RIPPING - AGRICULTURAL SPRAYING - PLUS MUCH MORE QUALITY MACHINERY AND TECHNOLOGY - TABULA FOR PROOF OF PLACEMENT AND FARM H & S ENQUIRIES: (027) 724 9675 OFFICE: (027) 2780 370 HUNTERAG@XTRA.CO.NZ WWW.KAM.NET.NZ KAM TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS CATERING TO ALL YOUR CONTAINER, TRANSPORTATION, CHILLED MOVEMENTS & 3PL WAREHOUSING NEEDS NATIONWIDE
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