Our Producers

All of our producers proud to share their history with you as you take a behind the scenes glimpse into the way your food is grown and produced. Enjoy a paddock to plate adventure, see how the food is produced, then enjoy it in a gourmet form at many of the producer’s sites. Or fill up your market bag and take away the freshest produce to enjoy at home.
With 13 producers across 7 sites it is a tasty day out!

Turks

Lewis Farms

Turk's- a family business which has been in operation for over 40 years. Turks free range chickens are corn-fed which means they produce healthy chickens with delicious flavour and goodness and their products are enjoyed throughout New Zealand.

On the Trail - Turks will be offering guided tours of their chicken processing plant on demand. Enjoy Yatai’s pop up Japanese Restaurant. At 10am, 12 noon, and 2pm award winning Chef Grant Kitchenr will be running a cooking demonstration, showcasing how to use a whole chicken, helping you reduce waste in the kitchen! There will be a variety of Turk’s products for you to try and buy, including the new range of award winning butterfly chicken. For the kids; live day-old chicks will be on display, along with a colouring in competition

Lewis Farm's - Lewis Farms is a family owned and operated business that has been farming in the Horowhenua since 1934. They are the second largest asparagus grower in New Zealand and recently added strawberries and honey to their offering.

On the Trail - Lewis Farms, now home to Tendertips Asparagus and strawberries and honey, will be offering plenty to see and do! Take a tour through the strawberry tunnels and learn about the technology involved in a hydroponic strawberry growing operation, and check out the asparagus packhouse live in action. Sample newly released strawberry jam and honey. Foxton Beach’s famous Ocean Beach Eatery will be serving up a selection of asparagus and strawberry inspired treats for you to try in their pop up cafe and garden bar. Enjoy a real fruit ice-cream, before you head to your next stop.

I & G Silver Olive Oil - Ian and Gillian have been growing and producing New Zealand Certified Extra Virgin Olive Oil in Horowhenua since 2014.
On the Trail - Chat with Ian and Gillian Silver who produce locally grown and produced Olive Oil.

Bagrie Dairy Farm

G J Bagrie Farms - Bagrie Dairy Farm is a family dairy operation based in Waitarere, with a modern 54 bale rotary milking
shed fitted out with the latest technology.

On the Trail - Explore the history of dairy farming. Get hands on and churn butter, see old machines in action, then take a tour of the modern rotary milking facility to see how it is done now. Enjoy country inspired treats prepared by Artisan Kitchen. Taste a range of delicious Kapiti cheeses, and stock up on some to take home. Kids can enjoy the John Deere sandpit, face painting, barrel train and petting zoo

The Baked Dane - Since 2016 The Baked Dane has specialised in rustic Scandinavian inspired baked goods. Owner Lisa Brink is passionate about baking and selling home baked goods at local farmers markets..

On the Trail - The Baked Dane will be showcasing their specialty range of crackers, including Knækbrød, and their new products, the Keto cracker and garlic rye chip.

Waikawa Fresh is a family owned and operated hydroponic lettuce and herb farm at Manakau. Their produce is packed to order daily for local and regional cafes and supermarkets.

On the Trail - Visit the Waikawa Fresh team to see the variety of hydroponic herbs and lettuces they grow in greenhouses in the Horowhenua, and pick out some fresh produce to take home.

The Ultimate Egg

The Ultimate Egg- A family owned business which offers free range and barn laid eggs for wholesale distribution throughout New Zealand supplying cafes, restaurants, supermarkets and specialty food stores.

On the Trail - Follow the egg from the chicken to the tray, as you tour through The Ultimate Egg’s farm and processing plant. See the latest technology in action along the way. Hear from the SPCA about what chicken farms have to do to achieve the SPCA Blue Tick. Browse through the new Ultimate Egg shop which will be celebrating their grand opening on Taste Trail day, with plenty of eggs available for sale.

Woodhaven Gardens

Woodhaven Gardens - a family run commercial growing operation. They have production in excess of 1000 acres, producing and distributing vegetables both nationally and internationally. Woodhaven is recognised as one of the leaders in the industry.

On the Trail - Come and learn about one of New Zealand’s largest market gardens. Go behind the scenes, explore the pack house, and hop on a John Deere tractor to explore the farm. Fresh vegetables will be available for tasting and purchase, so you can stock up your market bag. Watson’s Gardens will have seedlings for sale and kids can plant their own seedlings to take home and grow! La Boca Loca’s pop up cafe and garden bar, and try a mouth watering range of dishes showcasing vegetables.

Soul Sisters Kombucha is a holistic brand of kombucha which has been in operation since 2017. Infused with Kawakawa Rongoa Maori medicine. Soul Sisters has been created based around these traditional Maori Medicine practices.

On the Trail - Visit Soul Sisters Kombucha stand¸ find out how this healing business started, and try and buy the delicious range which is good for your mind and body.

Genoese Pesto

Genoese Pesto- A family owned and operated local business, manufacturing premium pesto’s from herbs and all natural ingredients. Genoese was established in Levin in 1993, and is the number one retail brand in New Zealand.

On the Trail - Take a walk through Genoese’s pesto factory, with an up close experience of pesto production locally here in NZ and an insight in to their growing operation up in Fiji. Sample and purchase the full range of pesto and dips, including the new plant based dip range. Indulge in gourmet Italian inspired offerings, prepared by Wellington’s Capitol Restaurant, or a basil vodka spritzer cocktail, at their garden bar.

Thoroughbread Foods - Thoroughbread is a family owned gluten free company. Through the love of food and their passion for health, they strive to make the best products possible.

On the Trail - Hear the fascinating story of Throughbread Foods, which has grown into an established leader in the gluten free baked goods market. Chat with the owner, Rebecca Rolls, who recently added another award to her collection for her popular bread. Sample the growing range, and choose from a variety of loaves to purchase and enjoy at home.

Ōhau Wines

Ōhau Wines
As the only vineyard in this fledgling wine region, Ōhau Wines has been producing award-winning wines with intense fruit flavours since 2009.

On the Trail - Visit Horowhenua’s only vineyard. Learn about the growing process, see the machinery used, and meet the team. Have a go at tending to the vines, and sample some of their award-winning wines!

Ohau Gourmet Mushrooms
Founded by Brent and Jude in 2018, Ohau Gourmet Mushrooms provides a business model that has helped them transition away from the increasing madness of the corporate world and get “off grid” in the Horowhenua

On the Trail - Meet the team from Ohau Gourmet Mushrooms, a ‘low-tech’ startup growing Oyster and Shiitake mushrooms for restaurants and farmers markets. Find out how they grow such a unique product in repurposed shipping containers using sawdust and soy. Stock up your market bag with a variety of mushrooms, or buy your own mini mushroom farm to grow your own at home