True Earth Organics in NZ | Murray Lloyd Photography

You may have seen the Lawsons True Earth label around town, especially as they distribute carrots, onions, blueberries and pumpkin all over the North Island in plentiful quantity. Situated in Hawkes Bay next to the Gimblett gravels (as branded by the wine industry)  Scott and Vicki have farmed the 100 hectare block organically since 1992.

It seems they have brought organic fresh veges and blueberries very much into the mainstream as the produce can not only be found in the organic supply chain but also in foodie destinations (Moore Wilsons etc) and regular supermarkets.

However you won't see their organic potatoes as the pest psyllid has made it uneconomic to grow them unless dealt with in a non organic way. This is a big loss but really lives up to the the name True Earth.

sorting blueberries

Blueberries in factory

Pickers with pumpkins

pumpkins being loaded onto a truck

Pumpkins growing

Organic carrots on farm

Picking organic carrots

sorting organic onions

organic onions being bagged

picking organic blueberries

Organic blueberries growing

True earth organics

Ugly Carrot Personality | Murray Lloyd Photography

Carrot two

Carrot three

When given a fresh bag of garden produce from my father in law's garden it contain a bunch of misshapen carrots. Or possibly not. Although the produce would be rejected by supermarkets  for lack of size ugly veges like these are now becoming trendy. Surely they have other creative possibilities as well...I am seeing the 3 wise men at the moment.

Shepherds Shemozle in Hunterville | Murray Lloyd Photography

Shepherd with dog

In Hunterville around Oct/Nov is one of the highlights on New Zealand's event calendar. The day features the Miss Hunterway Competition - "a beauty show for real bitches", a Dog barking sound off and the Shepherds' Shemozzle - a race pitting man and dog against other men and dogs along a fear factor type course (they do one for kids as well). In the past the notorious food stop has included - sheep eyes, pints of cream, bread buns, raw eggs, pints of beer, freshly dug carrots (with dirt), warm coca cola, bulls testicles, and vinegar. The food is expected to be forced down at the food stop as fast as possible by red-faced shepherds having just run/jumped and crawled several kilometers with their ever faithful dogs beside them all the way.