36 | Generating the good oil in Ashburton Kelly Deeks Ashburton Business Awards: Bio Oils REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Small Ashburton business Bio Oils New Zealand is proud to be recognised amongst some of the region’s largest and most prominent primary producers, as a finalist at the Ashburton District’s ANZ Business of the Year 2022 Awards. Bio Oils owner-operators Daryl and Debbie Prebble say the whole Bio Oils team is very excited and very proud to reach the finals. “We are a proud family, proud of the quality we achieve and proud of our New Zealand story,” Debbie says. “Our Canterbury growers produce some of the best flaxseed in the world, and this reflects in the highquality flaxseed oil we produce. We only process locally grown seed, no imported seed, which means our products are all traceable back to the farm.” “We would love to win the award, but being recognised and getting through to the finals amongst some of the region’s really big players is quite an achievement, and we are all looking forward to the awards evening.” Bio Oils joins Agricultural Consulting Services, Align Farms, Carrfields, and Midlands Apiaries as a finalist in the Excellence in Primary Industries category. Bio Oils has been cold-pressing flaxseed (linseed) in Ashburton for 35 years, when a group of business people and farmers who recognised the nutritional value of flaxseed and were looking to add some value to the product they were growing. The Prebble family have run the business ever since, and it was purchased by Daryl 15 years ago. Debbie says Bio Oils has a truly local story, with all of their growers based in Canterbury, and most of their suppliers also operating in the region. “Our Canterbury growers produce some of the best flaxseed in the world, and this reflects in the high-quality flaxseed oil we produce. “We only process locally grown seed, no imported seed, which means our products are all traceable back to the farm.” In Ashburton, Bio Oils cold-presses both organically and conventionally grown flaxseed to produce two products, flaxseed oil and flaxseed meal – the product that remains after the oil has been extracted from the seed. Flaxseed oil has long been renowned for the health benefits associated with its high content of Omega-3 fatty acids, but up until about five years ago, flaxseed meal was considered a low value by-product. “Now flaxseed meal is well-recognised as a highly nutritional product because it is low GI, gluten free and high in fibre, protein, vitamins and minerals,” Debbie says. “We are working with research institutions to further explore the potential of this superfood.” The health benefits of flaxseed are also not lost on the animal health industry. In addition to their premium food grade products, Bio Oils also supplies to high-end pet food manufacturers in New Zealand, and other animal health sectors. Bio Oils has a sister company Fourflax, now owned and operated by two of Daryl and Debbie’s children, Nick and Jenna. Fourflax produces nutritional supplements for cats, dogs, and horses to help with all manner of health issues including skin and coat, digestion and immunity, and joint and mobility. Debbie says Bio Oils is in a very fortunate position to be able to process all grades of flaxseed grown by their farmers, from premium food grade in their food processing facility to raw linseed oil for protecting and preserving wood, and all grades in between. 20 Framptons Road, Hinds PH 03 303 7083 brian@hindsseed.co.nz • 9.1m curtainsider • Tail lift • Dangerous goods • Locally owned and operated Nigiel & Susan Harvey Phone Nigiel 0274 856 759 After hours 03 308 1192 Email office@elgintransport.co.nz Elgin Transport Your freight connection between Ashburton and Christchurch! Phone Nigiel 0274 856 759 Call today for your freight order Efficient, reliable electrical contracting ENGINEERING • ELECTRICAL Proudly supporting Bio Oils For all your electrical installation and maintenance requirements Shane Christie 027 325 4773 Office 03 307 0660 eclipseservices@xtra.co.nz www.eclipseservicesltd.com
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