Central Hawke's Bay seed processing plant gets $3 million loan
Seed processing will bring drying, cleaning, processing and storage together in one Central Hawke’s Bay location.
|November 6, 2026Listen to the full interview:
A grower-led seed cleaning, processing and storage facility in Central Hawke’s Bay has a $3 million loan from the Government’s Regional Infrastructure Fund.
Central Hawke’s Bay mayor Will Foley says the funding builds on earlier investment in seed drying infrastructure in the district and follows about 12 months of advocacy.
“It just makes it a one-stop shop,” he says.
He says the council put its time into helping growers with the business case and feasibility work, and the growers will also contribute.
Foley says the facility gives arable growers more options after the McCain and Wattie’s decisions.
“These high value crops are providing the best gross margins to growers relative to other options.”
He says a grower group is still investigating keeping vegetable processing in Hawke’s Bay.
To learn more, visit chbdc.govt.nz
Watch the full interview:
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Read more: Can Hawke’s Bay save its vegetable industry?
