Wednesday, 14 August 2024 08:25

Quality issue

Written by  Peter Burke
Jeremy Mott Jeremy Mott

The varieties of parsnips the Motts grow is dictated by what the buyer and consumer want, says Amy Mott.

"We could get varieties of parsnip that have better shape, are more resistant to fungal disease, potentially better tasting and harder, but they are creamy in colour and roots tend to break off, sometimes leaving an orange mark. The supermarkets simply want a vegetable with a nice crown, about 230 millimetres long - that looks great, so that's what we do."

The Motts pride themselves on producing a premium product and this is where the numbers get mouth-wateringly massive. In their quest to produce this quality vegetable only about 30% get sold for human consumption while a further 10% make it into processing. The remaining 60% end up being fed to cattle and sheep. By way of comparison, the wastage rate for carrots is about 40% and potatoes about 10%.

Jeremy says he has another farmer who comes and picks up the parsnips left in the ground to feed to his cattle and sheep.

"Traditionally people used to feed out reject carrots, but the animals can get carotene poisoning and they become addicted to the high sugar content of the carrot. Parsnips have more fibre and less water, and once the cattle acquire the taste of the parsnips, they will eat them ahead of carrots and swedes," he says.

Innovation, hard work and determination are a hallmark of the Mott family. The road to the success they now enjoy has not been without its challenges and personal grief. But while it may be cold and challenging, the almost daily sight of beautiful Mt Ruapehu makes for a unique and stunning place to live and work.

More like this

The parsnip people of Karioi

The supermarkets say they want them straight and white and that's exactly how the Motts family grow their parsnips at Korioi near Ohakune.

Consumers rule growers’ business

Consumers’ demands are driving the way Ohakune commercial vegetable growers Bruce and Stephanie Rollinson produce and package their Brussel sprouts and parsnips.

Featured

National

NZ growers lead freshwater compliance

Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) says that commercial fruit and vegetable growers are getting ahead of freshwater farm plan regulations through…

Machinery & Products

Yamaha acquires Robotics Plus

New Zealand based company Robotics Plus, a specialist in agricultural automation, has announced an agreement for it to be acquired…

Ecorobotix announces NZ dealership

Swiss-based Ecorobotix has announced its entry into the New Zealand market through a strategic partnership with Canterbury-based New Zealand Tractors.

Sorting unwashed potatoes made easy

Downs, a leader in potato reception, automated sorting, and storage, has introduced its new high-throughput optical sorter for unwashed potatoes…

Jumbo X saves time and money

A winner of a prestigious ‘Technical Innovations 2024’ award by FederUnacoma at the EIMA show in Italy, the Maschio Jumbo…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Overbearing?

OPINION: Dust ups between rural media and PR types aren't unheard of but also aren't common, given part of the…

Foot-in-mouth

OPINION: The Hound hears from his canine pals in Southland that an individual's derogatory remarks on social media have left…

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter