Seeds business expands, new facility set to open

GROWTH MODE: A section of the buildings at PGG Wrighton Seeds' new state-of-the-art plant at Matawhero, due to be operational in the next few weeks. Right, a computer rendering of the company's new facility. Pictures supplied

A decade after first setting up in Gisborne, PGG Wrightson Seeds has been developing new premises to cope with increased demand from two major markets.

The company has sold its Solander Street site and is in the process of moving to a new 1.5-hectare site at Matawhero with warehousing and state-of-the-art seed processing.

“We are expanding our businesses across two business areas that we work in,” PGG Wrightson Seeds' Brent Sycamore said.

“In Gisborne we produce and process maize seed for the domestic Corson Maize brand, and we produce and process sweetcorn seed for international vegetable companies.

“The new site enables future expansion and is across the road from our five-hectare research and development site at Matawhero. Future expansion is anticipated because we are experiencing good demand for seed products being produced in Gisborne.”

Mr Sycamore said the new warehouses would have “state-of-the-art seed processing and cool store technology”.

PGG Wrightson Seeds purchased the Corson seed operation and its Solander Street premises about 10 years ago.