At Wilcox we understand what effects climate, soil quality, growing seasons and geographic areas have on individual potato types.
Planting
Crops are seeded during the New Zealand winter – June, July and August.
Growing
As the crop grows, plant health is monitored for diseases and insects to ensure that protectant sprays are only used as necessary. Growing to maturity takes between seven and eight months.
Topping
The crop is hand-clipped to ensure good skin quality and minimise the time the crop lies in the field. The picked and clipped onions are left in rows awaiting harvest.
Harvesting
After about seven to ten days of field curing, the onion stems have healed. The onions are then harvested by machine into airy wooden bins to minimise handling and achieve good curing conditions while in storage.
Packing
In the pack-house the onions are accurately sized by machine, and then carefully graded by eye to ensure best quality product. The onions are then packed ready for distribution to the New Zealand domestic market.Onions grown by Wilcox are also exported to Europe and Asia. For more information please go to www.sofresh.co.nz