Wattie's Tomatoes | From Farm to Plate
- Date Published
- 1 January 2001
Taste the difference with Wattie’s tomatoes, proudly grown in the Hawke’s Bay by the Apatu family.
Farming is in the blood of the Apatu family. Apatu Farms was started by Ken Apatu 41 years ago, supplying tomatoes to Wattie’s. Today his sons Mark and Paul continue the family business and are still proudly supplying Wattie’s tomatoes for canning. Their business is a major contributor to New Zealand's export market and supplier to some of the biggest food brands in New Zealand.
Apatu Farms continue their long standing relationship with Wattie’s supplying not only tomatoes but other crops for canning. This season Mark and Paul will grow over 2.5 million tomato vines providing Wattie’s vine ripened tomatoes that will be used to produce their range of flavoured tomatoes. From their farm in the sunny Hawke's Bay they will also grow beetroot, sweetcorn and butternuts for Wattie’s.
Apatu Farms also includes vineyards in their portfolio as well as livestock, finishing lamb and beef. Apatu Farms, two brothers, one farm and a great New Zealand success story.