Ginkgo scheme great for Bay

RACHEL PINDER A world-first, multi-million dollar horticultural enterprise in Hawke's Bay has scooped a business commercial project award from Sister Cities New Zealand.
The enterprise operates the first commercial planting of ginkgo trees in the Southern Hemisphere and possibly the first to go completely organic in the world.
It was set up after a chance remark by a member of a visiting delegation from Napier's Chinese sister city of Lianyungang 10 years ago, who excitedly spotted a ginkgo in Latham Street.
After eight years of trials and tests and market research overseas, the first of tens of thousands of ginkgo trees were planted at Pakowhai in September by the directors of Nature Green.
Co-director Mr Massey said the creation of the Nature Green company to grow the trees was literally an idea that grew from a seed.
He wrote a 10-page submission about the ginkgo project, which was submitted in the business category of the Sister Cities New Zealand awards, on behalf of the Napier City Council.
And the report beat off competition from other cities around the country to win $2500 worth of Air New Zealand air-miles.
Other categories were education, along with social and culture, and there were a total of 18 entries.
Mr Massey was delighted to accept the award.
"It's great to get this recognition from Sister Cities New Zealand. Ginkgo is now a multi-million dollar export product.
"We have one firm contract with Kiwiherb in Auckland, and we are now exporting to Britain and the rest of Europe," he said.
The leaves of the ginkgo are in great demand in Asia where they are used as a herb regarded as "brain-food". The ginkgo herb assists blood flow and memory and has become the most-used herb in the world.
Mr Massey, who is the council's economic development manager, took up the idea, along with Nature Green director John Knight. They began to develop it as an economic project which could assist the clients of Disability Training Services.
Both are directors of the DTS, which wholly owns Nature Green Ltd.
They enlisted the expertise of rural and agricultural consultant George Spiers, who guided the fledgling company through growth trials on sites in Hawke's Bay, East Coast, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty.
The results, which showed the New Zealand leaf was among the highest quality in the world, prompted the company to go ahead.
They also received ministerial backing from Jim Anderton and Parakura Horomia, as well as support from NZ Trade and Enterprise, Technology NZ and the Community Employment Group.
Mr Massey said negotiations with overseas markets had resulted in securing supply contracts for up to $2.5 million of leaf exports - even before a tree had been planted.
Able to withstand frost and hail, and with no serious pests, the hardy trees can be harvested for its leaves just six months after planting.