Business Rural Autumn 2021

| 75 seed exporters Growing the grower base a key focus Townsend seeds is looking to add to its portfolio of professional growers. Kelly Deeks RURAL SERVICES » Smith Seeds / Townsend Seeds W i th a strong presence in the international seed market, Canterbury’s Townsend Seeds, merchant of vegetable seeds, for- age and pasture seeds, garden peas, and cereals for the international market, is always looking to add to its large portfolio of professional and reli- able growers. Locally owned and operated by founder and managing director Lynn Townsend, who has been in the seed business for more than 40 years, the family business also employs Lynn’s two sons and brings all of its profits back to the Canterbury economy. Established in 1997, Townsend Seeds supplies into markets worldwide, including Europe, Asia, America, and South Africa. All seed is produced using the best protocols to ensure the highest quality progeny, and a sophisticated isolation scheme is used to eliminate potential cross- pollination issues. Most seed is produced under the New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries seed certification scheme, and Townsend Seeds is accredited to the OECD Seed Certification scheme. Townsend Seeds receives an increasing amount of enquiry from overseas customers, due to the company’s base in the relatively disease-free environment of the South Island of New Zealand, its own research and trial facilities, access to some of the most modern seed cleaning plants in New Zealand, and its focus on quality, integrity, and attention to detail. • to page 76 www.gvi.co.nz Import/Export Air Freight Import/Export Ocean Freight Customs Brokerage Third Party Logis�cs Event Logis � cs Registered RMP Facili�es Proudly suppor � ng Smith Seeds Let Taylormade deal with your accounting and tax compliance needs so you can do what you do best... run your business. paula@taylormadeca.co.nz 03 930 8290 or 021 804 731 taylormadeca.co.nz Customers send the planting seeds of their own varieties to Smith Seeds. The company’s farmer clients multiply them in New Zealand then the resultant harvested and processed seeds are shipped back.