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A Methven farmer with a love for rising totally different seeds has developed a crop-to-kitchen enterprise supplying quinoa to Canterbury houses and past.
Third-generation crop and seed farmer Andrew Currie launched into his quinoa journey when he tried some historical 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 provides 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 needed with Currie’s lower-saponin quinoa.
Though quinoa is historically grown at excessive altitudes within the Andes, Currie finds it grows nicely however is difficult 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 prospects in search of locally-grown spray-free quinoa.
Quick ahead to in the present day and Currie has simply spent “a fortune” to herald seeds for a brand new number of quinoa from Europe for subsequent 12 months’s crop. He’s hoping for higher yields from the newest seeds.
He’s additionally bought three several types of millet and chickpea seeds coming in.
“I really like rising totally different stuff. It’s enjoyable –and I’ve bought 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 hen seed.
“Some years it (millet) grows rather well and a few years it fails rather well. It’s been 37 years and I’m nonetheless studying tips on how to develop it.”
Currie stated he was nonetheless trying to find 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 “battle”.
Various seeds, like coriander and chia, don’t do nicely. Whereas Canterbury will get heat days it cools at evening and the entire warmth items weren’t sufficient for both crop, Currie stated.
Borage, buckwheat and brassicas develop nicely however the viability of those crops varies from 12 months to 12 months relying on the worth for every seed. At decrease costs, it may well 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 find out about 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 elements 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 Info
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 food regimen, courting again to the Incas.
It’s a nutrition-dense seed with excessive ranges of protein, nutritional vitamins, minerals, and fibre that will help you keep full for longer.
Quinoa has lately gained reputation as a superfood and is widespread with vegans, vegetarians and folks on a gluten-free food regimen.
By Sharon Davis
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