Protecting Produce

On a fruitful slice of Central Otago land lies a market garden, home to a passionate family of horticulturalists and a 4-bay Goldpine Ned’s Shed. We caught up with Hans Biemond, proud owner and operator of Biemond Market Gardens in Earnscleugh, who told us about his veggie business and how buying a new shed has been a value-for-money investment.

Hans moved to New Zealand in 1984 from the Netherlands, where he’d worked as a horticulturist. Upon arriving, he reached out to an old Dutch connection based in Cromwell and saw an opportunity to use Otago’s climate to his advantage and grow vegetables. “I’ve always grown veggies, even in the Netherlands. Brussels sprouts are a big winter veggie in Holland,” Hans said. The business has since grown to supply supermarkets from Otago to Christchurch.

Along with his son Tony, Hans manages the 15-hectare garden, which grows and sells a range of vegetables. Biemond Market Gardens proudly supplies New World and Foodstuffs stores across the South Island, growing Brussels sprouts in winter and a diverse range of vegetables in summer. Potatoes, lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli, and leeks are grown on-site, with Brussels sprouts serving as a specialty in the winter. “Growing veggies can be pretty hard. Margins are a little small, but Brussels sprouts, because they are very labour intensive, are still relatively well paid, so we can afford to send them to Christchurch,” Hans explained.

Hans purchased a 4-Bay Goldpine Ned’s Shed to protect his horticultural machinery and equipment from the Central Otago elements. “Most of my machinery has been sitting outside for about 35 years, which has always been a bit of a pain,” Hans explained. “But this shed was a very good deal. So, finally, I can start putting some gear inside to keep it out of the weather. All the info I got from Goldpine made me like it, and I have not been disappointed,” he said.

Hans’ choice to buy a 4-bay Goldpine shed was because “it was the biggest shed I could buy without having to get building consent”. It now provides storage and shelter for three planters, a tractor and a sprayer. ”We can also put pumpkins, onions and other vegetables in there now to keep them in the shade during summer,” Hans added.

Hans made one major customisation - adding spouting to capture rainwater. He said the building process was straightforward, and the builders were happy too. “It was easy to put up, nothing was missing, everything was there,” Hans said. “The Goldpine team gave me all the information. They gave me the figures on the dot, what it would actually cost to put up. So I could make a good calculation.”

The benefit of the shed is more than just storage, Hans said. “It’s cleaned up the place, made it more respectable,” he said. Overall, Hans has been pleased with his shed purchase. For farmers considering similar investments, he offers clear advice. “I think it’s value for money and no paperwork. The government has tried to make it easier for builders to put certain things up without consents, and I think we should take advantage of that while it is still going.”