Te Mata Figs
Murray Douglas & Helen Walker established Te Mata Figs in 2007 from a passion to grow amazing figs in the warm Mediterranean type climate of Hawke’s Bay,. They grow around 30 varieties of fresh figs and produce a wide range of fig products at The Figgery near Havelock North. Murray is a historian who has amazing knowledge and enthusiasm in regards Figs. Ben first meets Murray at the Farmers market and is so inspired and excited by the range of Figs he grows, decided to pay him a visit. At the end of the episode Ben cooks a Beef & Fig dish as a celebration of food he experienced in the region (Matangi Beef & Te Mata Figs)
Apollo Foods – PICKY (Apple Juice)
Ross Beaton started growing apples back in 1982 and built a successful business exporting apples to 45 countries around the world. Ross is seriously passionate about apples and was always bothered about the “ugly fruit” – the apples that were of ‘A Grade’ texture but went to waste because they weren’t pretty enough for export. He had a burning desire to do something about it.
In 2013, Ross met Sally Gallagher, Hawke’s Bay’s Food Innovation Specialist , and with a shared vision, The Apple Press was born. Together they set out to make all- natural, quality, varietal-led apple juice in significant quantities, but they couldn’t find a factory with the capability to do it. “So, I thought, I better build it” said Ross.
Today Ross’s plot of land in Whakatu, Hawke’s Bay is home to the Apollo Foods production facility using some of the very best technology in the world. The story focus is on Picky (apple juice) – a high-quality locally made New Zealand product. Apollo
Foods , mission – to continue to create jobs in New Zealand while keeping sustainability and innovation front of mind. Picky continues to produce single variety apple juice based on unique market taste profiles – for example JAZZTM apple juice is New Zealand, Pink Lady for Australia and Envy for China.
Ben first meets Sally to discuss food technology and understand how Picky came about./ is made. Ben then meets Ross in his Jazz apple orchard amongst Jazz Apple trees and samples the Picky juices.
