MPI’s Maori Agribusiness team and partner agencies are supportive of this land diversification workshop, to enable more information to be put into the public domain about the opportunity that Truffles could afford land owners in the Bay of Plenty.

 
Much of the Truffle related activity taking place in New Zealand, is taking place in Ohiwa via the efforts of Matiu & Annette Hudson from Ohiwa Black Diamonds. See the link for more info about the mahi that Matiu & Annette are doing to develop the NZ Truffle Industry into a viable sector.  Matiu and Annette will be delivering the presentation, detailing the opportunity that Truffles presents.     

Embracing present opportunities;

Truffles are edible fungi much sought after by gourmets around the world, the Périgord black truffle (Tuber melanosporum) in particular, ranks with saffron, caviar and foie gras as the most elite of fine foods. The high price paid for this fungus is a testimony to its organoleptic qualities.
•       Low Environmental impact
•       Low start-up costs/input
•       Long productivity            

Yields of 20–50kg plus per hectare are achievable in well-managed plantations, and with market prices at $3500/kg, you don’t need too many kilograms per hectare before the returns become interesting.

• Truffles, and in particular the black truffles of Périgord are considered by many to be the Holy Grail of fine dining, and are as highly prized as any flavours found in a three Michelin starred kitchen
• Those gourmets and chefs lucky enough to acquire some precious ‘Black Diamonds’ are the envy of chefs around the world, for the Black truffle is a most desirable culinary item, used to magical affect in the world’s most expensive and exclusive restaurants.
• Future export opportunities (Northern Hemisphere is declining in truffle production), and we are seen to have the clean green image that  appeals to the rest of the world, such as Hong Kong and even France with their declining truffieres.
• Added Value products
• Rolling seasons with the production of the winter and summer truffles.
• Exciting times to grow the New Zealand Truffle Industry and a great investment opportunity.

If you want to learn more about this opportunity, come along on the 28 of February 2020. Please feel free to forward this panui onto your networks, ensuring that any RSVPs are directed to the following email address, for catering purposes: daniel.phillips@mpi.govt.nz
 
Directly following the workshop, we are looking to arrange a site visit to a local truffiere, please state in your rsvp, if you would like to participate in the site visit.
 
Mauri ora
Na Daniel Phillips
Senior Adviser, Māori Agribusiness Directorate
Tapuwae Ahuwhenua | Ministry for Primary Industries - Manatū Ahu Matua
Te Papa Tipu Innovation Park, Rotorua, 99 Sala St | PO Box 1340 | Rotorua
Telephone: 04 819-4237 | Mobile: 027 516 7834 | Web: www.mpi.govt.nz