Karamea Tomatoes
An entrepreneurial dairy farmer in the northern reaches of the West Coast takes advantage of a unique climate to grow tomatoes for both local and Canterbury markets. He says there are a lot of parallels between the two businesses.
Geoff Volckman runs two dairy farms and a tomato growing operation in the remote settlement of Karamea close to the Heaphy track.
He has recently acquired a neighbouring beef operation and is in the early stages of incorporating that block with the two dairy farms.
Geoff says he got into tomatoes almost by accident. He was looking around for business opportunities and at that stage there wasn't much land changing hands in Karamea.
They looked at all the usual investment opportunitiesincluding houses as rentals etc. A friend introduced him to a tomato grower from Christchurch. They went across and had a look at the business and took the plunge.
They started with one 3000sqm hot house in 1998. The idea was to start big having taken the advice that small operations stay small or go out of business.
That worked well but there was the problem of year round supply when they remove one years plants and want to put in the next seasons. So Geoff built another plastic house and then a further one which is in glass.
The business is run by Geoffs son Tom and a local lady called Rochelle. They are among the biggest employers in Karamea....which may not be saying anything but it at least means they don't usually struggle for labour.
Geoff remarks that Karamea seems to attract people that want to escape city life and yet need some sort of income.
All together there is 1.2ha of either glass or plastic hot houses.
They grow the standard varieties. At first Geoff says they used to grow their own plants but now use grafted plants that they buy in. He says he gets better production that way.
Their growing house has now been used for a new variety. It a little like the cherry tomato but shaped like a strawberry
The most important thing in a hydroponic operation is the nutrient flow. On hot days more water is added to the nutrient mix to control plant growth. The aim is to keep the plants short and thick so that their energy goes into producing the fruit.
In the past theyve also used different mixes for summer and winter. In summer theyve discovered also that the plant needs more phosphorous. It is apparently all about responding to the needs of the plant all year round.
One of the advantages of Karamea is a very mild winter. The houses are kept at around 17degrees overnight. If the area gets more than two or three frosts it is unlucky.
In the warmer season they have to watch humidity in the houses to avoid the risk of leaf mold or botrytis. The houses are computer monitored so that they can try and keep the ideal growing conditions all year round.
Theres been a commitment to trying to keep the crop spray free. They control white fly with a predator wasp - but Geoff adds that the ideal is to keep the plants healthy and therefore less inclined to being attacked.
Another advantage of Karamea is the very clear light. When it rains and it does it clear away quickly those good light levels allow the development of good firm tomatoes.
The houses are pulled and replanted in such a way as they continue with year round supply. In the past they've sent their crop to Dunedin but lately it has mostly been going to Christchurch. Although Karamea is at the end of the road it is no different to bringing in crop from Auckland.
Another advantage of being on the coast is access to relatively cheap coal for heating.
Geoff says that hes not really that keen on horticulture but does reckon he's learnt a lot from the tomato operation and recognized some similarities between the two. The tomatoes are a lot more unforgiving than farming. He says if you get behind with your work on the farm you can do it the next day but if you do that with tomato growing things get worse very quickly.
Geoff Volckman runs two dairy farms and a tomato growing operation in the remote settlement of Karamea close to the Heaphy track.
He has recently acquired a neighbouring beef operation and is in the early stages of incorporating that block with the two dairy farms.
Geoff says he got into tomatoes almost by accident. He was looking around for business opportunities and at that stage there wasn't much land changing hands in Karamea.
They looked at all the usual investment opportunitiesincluding houses as rentals etc. A friend introduced him to a tomato grower from Christchurch. They went across and had a look at the business and took the plunge.
They started with one 3000sqm hot house in 1998. The idea was to start big having taken the advice that small operations stay small or go out of business.
That worked well but there was the problem of year round supply when they remove one years plants and want to put in the next seasons. So Geoff built another plastic house and then a further one which is in glass.
The business is run by Geoffs son Tom and a local lady called Rochelle. They are among the biggest employers in Karamea....which may not be saying anything but it at least means they don't usually struggle for labour.
Geoff remarks that Karamea seems to attract people that want to escape city life and yet need some sort of income.
All together there is 1.2ha of either glass or plastic hot houses.
They grow the standard varieties. At first Geoff says they used to grow their own plants but now use grafted plants that they buy in. He says he gets better production that way.
Their growing house has now been used for a new variety. It a little like the cherry tomato but shaped like a strawberry
The most important thing in a hydroponic operation is the nutrient flow. On hot days more water is added to the nutrient mix to control plant growth. The aim is to keep the plants short and thick so that their energy goes into producing the fruit.
In the past theyve also used different mixes for summer and winter. In summer theyve discovered also that the plant needs more phosphorous. It is apparently all about responding to the needs of the plant all year round.
One of the advantages of Karamea is a very mild winter. The houses are kept at around 17degrees overnight. If the area gets more than two or three frosts it is unlucky.
In the warmer season they have to watch humidity in the houses to avoid the risk of leaf mold or botrytis. The houses are computer monitored so that they can try and keep the ideal growing conditions all year round.
Theres been a commitment to trying to keep the crop spray free. They control white fly with a predator wasp - but Geoff adds that the ideal is to keep the plants healthy and therefore less inclined to being attacked.
Another advantage of Karamea is the very clear light. When it rains and it does it clear away quickly those good light levels allow the development of good firm tomatoes.
The houses are pulled and replanted in such a way as they continue with year round supply. In the past they've sent their crop to Dunedin but lately it has mostly been going to Christchurch. Although Karamea is at the end of the road it is no different to bringing in crop from Auckland.
Another advantage of being on the coast is access to relatively cheap coal for heating.
Geoff says that hes not really that keen on horticulture but does reckon he's learnt a lot from the tomato operation and recognized some similarities between the two. The tomatoes are a lot more unforgiving than farming. He says if you get behind with your work on the farm you can do it the next day but if you do that with tomato growing things get worse very quickly.