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The world market for organically grown produce has seen some exceptional
growth at a rate of 20% per year. The domestic organics market is growing at a
staggering 50% per year! This increasing demand is expected to continue in the
future. Rodney has already pioneered a number of organic farms and within Rodney
and Waitakere City there are a number of highly specialised companies focused on
organics. This industry fits in well with out image and character and could
become a niche trademark for our area without impacting negatively on our more
traditional forms of farming.
Organics is however a fairly young industry and individual companies could
collaborate more to form a highly organised group of companies sharing a similar
vision and operating together to create and maximise opportunities for growth in
the region. This lead project is therefore about promoting this collaboration by
developing a joint Rodney-Waitakere organics cluster. The cluster facilitates
things like channels for business transactions, shared infrastructure and joint
marketing and promotion. The target that has been set for this project is to
grow our organics industry from its current $120 million to $500 million in the
next 4 years.
The aim of the Organics Cluster is to formally recognise and develop existing
strengths in the organics industry in Waitakere City and Rodney District by
focusing on three key areas:
- Improving local linkages
- Industry gap analysis
- Cooperative marketing
The main outcomes are to:
- Develop a ‘map’ of the organics industry in
Rodney and Waitakere;
- Develop a method for supporting the growth of organics e.g., by sharing
resources and ideas, marketing, formalising networking
within the sector;
- Develop a picture of existing and potential organic markets for
future growth;
- Identify roles for support organisations such as councils, tertiary
institution, existing networks.
Visit the cluster’s website at
www.organiccluster.org.nz or the Enterprise
Waitakere website www.enterprisewaitakere.co.nz. Contact the cluster
facilitator directly at:
The Sustainable Business Network
1A Scotland Street
PO Box 147 263
Ponsonby
Auckland
Phone: 09 920 2400
Email: office@sustainable.org.nz
Website:
www.sustainable.org.nz
For more information on Rodney District Council’s involvement in the Cluster,
contact Anthony Dow, Economic Development & Community Manager.
The Orewa Beach Farmers’ Market includes a reserved number of stalls specifically for organic
produce. Click here for more information.
The Rodney Economic Development Trust are also encouraging local landowners
to use their land for organic crops. Visit the Trust’s website for further
information:
www.bizrodney.com
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