About Us
Honorary Life Membership
Growing Organics is delighted to be able to honour Mary Zajkowski by granting her our first life membership.
Mary was one of the early members of Wairarapa Organics as a grower and as the organisation's Treasurer. She brought valuable financial knowledge to guide the committee’s financial decision-making. This was a crucial role as Wairarapa Organics was the recipient of quite large government grants to assist its work of developing the organic growing, practice and knowledge in this region.
Since Wairarapa Organics was wound up in 2012, becoming Wai Organics and, subsequently, Growing Organics in 2017, she continued her association with the group as a committed personal member. In this capacity, she has always responded helpfully and quickly with much appreciated advice to the Treasurer’s questions about financial management issues. She has also, despite health issues, responded promptly to questions sent out to our membership on key organisational issues relating to constitutional changes and changes to the organisation’s name.
Our Producers
Some Growing Organics’ certified organic producers and processors with products for sale are listed here.
Pagro / Four Corners Organics
Jos and Rita Paans are growing a variety of vegetables in their ½ acre of greenhouses in Masterton.
In summer there is the usual range of summer crops. These include lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, sweet corn and succulent green beans.
In winter they have a selection suited to the colder weather, including herbs like coriander & parsley. This in addition to a few members of the cabbage family and the trusted silver beet/Swiss chard.
Following the organic way of growing they are growing healthy, good looking and tasty vegetables.
Email: Jos Paans <jos@paans.nz>
Stone River Grove
Anne and Brian Opie have been certified organic growers, initially with BioGro, since 2005. Our land lies on part of the old Waiohine River bed close to Greytown, with an extensive view of the Tararuas.
We believe strongly in the importance of producing high quality organic produce at affordable prices.
Our olive oil has the distinctive pepperiness associated with northern Italian cultivars. We also sell purple de jeux and green globe artichokes and garlic
For more information about our produce, please email anne.opie132@gmail.com
or go to stoneriverorganics.nz
Huckelbridge Harvests
Emily and James are new to Growing Organics and grow a variety of seasonal, artisan and heirloom vegetables, salads, herbs and edible flowers in their tunnels and lifestyle block in Carterton. Having a keen interest in herbalism, natural health and cookery, Emily and James have always sought the best quality produce for their family’s health.
Whilst we go through our CO year, at the beginning of our certification process, we are unable to class our produce as organic. However, I talk to our customers about the process we go through and what it means to us and how it also shows our commitment to organics and to providing them with genuine produce grown under organic standards that met the registration, conversion and certification process.
Emily works closely with some of the region's top chefs to discuss what is coming through in season so that menus can reflect true seasonal produce. To some select chefs we offer a bespoke service where we discuss the possibility of growing produce they are not normally able to source and special varieties, subject to us being able to source and grow the produce in a way that does not affect our certification process.
The family also grow the more usual produce for the wholesale market and at times sell direct into the ocal community or provide produce to local charity community events to encourage healthy eating. We look forward to the day when organics becomes the norm again and are affordable to all.
The proof is in the eating for us. We love hearing the feedback from satisfied customers and diners, questions about the more unusual vegetables, comments on the freshness of the salads and the pungent herbs.
For more details, please email Emily at huckelbridgeharvests@gmail.com
Growing Organics Inc - the organisation
Growing Organics aims to
- promote, encourage and support activities which will increase the level of organic production and its marketing; and to
- assist individuals and corporate bodies to meet their goals in relation to organic production and marketing
The Board
The Board normally has 5 members elected from among the members at the Annual General Meeting. The Officers are the Chairperson, the Secretary and the Treasurer. The Certification Manager also attends the meetings as an ex-officio Board member.
2017-2018 Board Members: Emily Barnes, Peggy Duncan, Anne Opie (Secretary), Brian Opie (Treasurer), Jos Paans (Certification Manager, ex officio).
The Certification Manager: The Certification Manager is appointed annually by the Board for the following calendar year, and is ex officio a member of the Board. The Certification Manager and the Auditor are the only persons to receive remuneration for work done for Growing Organics Inc.
The Auditor: The Auditor is appointed annually by the Board to carry out the audits of applicants for certification.
The Certification Committee: This subcommittee of the Board oversees the certification process and reviews the auditor’s reports on applications for certification.
The Annual General Meeting: The Annual General Meeting is normally held in May each year.
The National Co-ordinating Committee (NCC): The NCC is the governing body of Organic FarmNZ (OFNZ), made up of regional representatives. The Growing Organics representative is elected at the Annual General Meeting, normally for a two-year term.
Constitution: The Growing Organics Constitution can be found on the Registrar of Incorporated Societies website. Go to http://www.societies.govt.nz and search under 1126006 - GROWING ORGANICS INCORPORATED .
Board Minutes: Summaries of Board Minutes may be emailed to members.
Newsletters: From time to time an email newsletter may be provided to members.
