Northland Farmer gets top foodies on side

MEDIA RELEASE

Northland Farmer gets top foodies on side

A local specialist pork and beef producer has won a nationwide competition to have some of the country’s top experts help promote the business.

Amanda Hellier and her husband Wayne farm in Motutangi under the name Farm Gate Produce. They have been named as one of four winners of the Sustainable Business Network’s Good Food Boost competition. The family business produces Free Range pork cuts, sausages, salami and Chorizo and supplies it ‘from gate to plate’.

As part of the competition prize Farm Gate Produce and the other three winners will all receive eight weeks’ mentoring from communications guru Martin Yeoman of Assignment, Karen Staples owner and founder of Auckland-based food company Pure Delish, Kim Evans founder of premium food stores Little & Friday, and Mike Murphy managing director of Kokako Organic coffee.

The teams will also take their wares to the FoodBowl food innovation facility in Mangere, where they can test out new production and packaging ideas.

Amanda said: “It’s just great to be able to talk to others from outside your business to see we on the right track and to work with people that believe in what you are doing. We can produce great products in this gorgeous country, and people need to hear about them.”

The other winners are:

• House of Dumplings: handmade traditional dumplings from quality ingredients.

• Real Eating Awesome Living: a fast-growing business selling real vegetable wraps, a tasty gluten, grain and wheat-free bread alternative.

• Wise Boys Burgers: a busy vegan burger trailer in Auckland.

The competition is sponsored by Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development (ATEED).

It was judged by

• Angus Brown, Business Development Manager at New Zealand Food Innovation Network;

• Connie Clarkson, Panuku Development Auckland;

• Wendy Voegelin, Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development;

• Emily Dowding-Smith, Sustainable Business Network.

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