International blackcurrant study may offer hope for diabetics
A new international clinical trial testing a molecule found in New Zealand blackcurrants may offer hope for thousands of Kiwis living with diabetes and associated metabolic disorders.
Tony and Afsaneh Howey take their organic blackcurrant business, ViBERi, to the public at the recent Go Green expo in Christchurch. Photo: Rural News Group.
While conventional growers would aim for a yield of about 10t/ha, Tony Howey aims for about 5t/ha.
He says the ViBERi business model is all about added value.
When they started there was only a little organic blackcurrant concentrate being imported.
“No-one else was doing organics of any consequence,” he told Hort News. “We realised there wasn’t a market sitting there waiting. We had to develop the market and the brand.”
Howey leases space at a coolstore in Washdyke where all the initial destrigging, size and colour grading and packing is done with the berries in a deep frozen state.
ViBERi’s first product was a simple pack of free flow frozen berries.
The product range now includes powders, chocolate covered freeze dried berries, soft dried berries infused with organic apple juice, and a couple of white chocolate coated lines -- one dusted with the deep purple powder.
The powder is made from freeze dried berries and can be used for smoothies, yoghurt and decoration, giving both colour and flavour. The Howeys sprinkle it on their breakfast cereal.
“It’s so good,” says Afsaneh. “Because it’s raw it’s just like eating fresh or frozen so it’s convenient.”
They plan to expand online sales while continuing to develop product ideas.
The couple also take their enthusiasm for blackcurrants on the road, presenting their products directly to the public at events such as the recent Go Green expos.
Howey says a lot of collaboration arises at such shows when exhibitors meet up and explore ways to use each other’s products in combination.
Less than half their production now goes to retail. The Howeys have powders and dried or frozen berries going as ingredients in about 25 other branded products including breakfast cereals, smoothies, juices and supplements.
According to ASB, Fonterra's plan to sell it's Anchor and Mainlands brands could inject $4.5 billion in additional spending into the economy.
New Zealand’s trade with the European Union has jumped $2 billion since a free trade deal entered into force in May last year.
The climate of uncertainty and market fragmentation that currently characterises the global economy suggests that many of the European agricultural machinery manufacturers will be looking for new markets.
Dignitaries from all walks of life – the governor general, politicians past and present, Maoridom- including the Maori Queen, church leaders, the primary sector and family and friends packed Our Lady of Kapiti’s Catholic church in Paraparaumu on Thursday October 23 to pay tribute to former prime Minister, Jim Bolger who died last week.
Agriculture and Forestry Minister, Todd McClay is encouraging farmers, growers, and foresters not to take unnecessary risks, asking that they heed weather warnings today.
With nearly two million underutilised dairy calves born annually and the beef price outlook strong, New Zealand’s opportunity to build a scalable dairy-beef system is now.

OPINION: The Greens have taken the high moral ground on the Palestine issue and been leading political agitators in related…
One of the most galling aspects of the tariffs whacked on our farm exports to the US is the fact…