A Methven farmer with a love for rising totally different seeds has developed a crop-to-kitchen enterprise supplying quinoa to Canterbury properties and past.
Third-generation crop and seed farmer Andrew Currie launched into his quinoa journey when he tried some historic grains as rotation crops for his common wheat, barley, and grass seed crops.
The primary quinoa trial on Currie’s 300-hectare farm was 3kgs of supermarket-bought quinoa seed.
It grew nicely, however the yields weren’t good, he stated.
He’s experimented with quinoa for the final 13 or so years, bringing in seeds with improved genetics, higher yields, nuttier style, and decrease saponin.
Saponin is a naturally occurring outer coating that offers quinoa a bitter style to discourage birds. Quinoa with excessive saponin must be rinsed and washed earlier than it’s cooked. That could be a course of that’s not mandatory with Currie’s lower-saponin quinoa.
Though quinoa is historically grown at excessive altitudes within the Andes, Currie finds it grows nicely however is tough to reap.
He grows about 10 tonnes of quinoa every year and sells each seeds and flakes wholesale in 25kg luggage and retails on to New Zealand clients in search of locally-grown spray-free quinoa.
Quick ahead to at this time and Currie has simply spent “a fortune” to usher in seeds for a brand new number of quinoa from Europe for subsequent yr’s crop. He’s hoping for higher yields from the most recent seeds.
He’s additionally acquired three various kinds of millet and chickpea seeds coming in.
“I like rising totally different stuff. It’s enjoyable –and I’ve acquired an understanding financial institution supervisor.”
Experimenting with different crops is in Currie’s blood. His father was one of some farmers to get into canary seed again in 1964.
Currie nonetheless grows canary seed together with Hungarian millet – one other staple chicken seed.
“Some years it (millet) grows very well and a few years it fails very well. It’s been 37 years and I’m nonetheless studying how one can develop it.”
Currie stated he was nonetheless looking for viable break crops and located {that a} problem.
He’s tried a variety together with grey-striped sunflowers and hemp. These develop nicely, however wild birds made them a “wrestle”.
A variety of seeds, like coriander and chia, don’t do nicely. Whereas Canterbury will get heat days it cools at night time and the entire warmth models weren’t sufficient for both crop, Currie stated.
Borage, buckwheat and brassicas develop nicely however the viability of those crops varies from yr to yr relying on the value for every seed. At decrease costs, it may pay for the price of manufacturing however doesn’t put meals on the desk.
Currie stated it was a “studying curve” to go from quinoa farmer to supplying the general public. He and his associate, Gaewynne Hood, needed to study well being and security necessities, labelling legal guidelines and biodegradable packaging.
They promote white, golden and white quinoa as seeds, in addition to quinoa flakes on-line.
“The flakes are extra versatile than the seeds however we promote extra seeds than flakes.”
Currie stated the flakes could possibly be used to switch dry components in baking, thickening soups and as a porridge.
They’ve recipes on-line that vary from garlic, zucchini and quinoa fritters to chocolate quinoa muffins and muffins.
Quinoa Quick Details
Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is a part of the amaranth household which incorporates beets, chard and spinach.
It was traditionally a significant a part of the Andean weight loss program, relationship again to the Incas.
It’s a nutrition-dense seed with excessive ranges of protein, nutritional vitamins, minerals, and fibre that can assist you keep full for longer.
Quinoa has just lately gained reputation as a superfood and is standard with vegans, vegetarians and other people on a gluten-free weight loss program.
By Sharon Davis