The challenge of turning a Bay of Plenty lifestyle block into a highly productive, revenue-generating business has involved taking things indoors for Pyes Pa passionfruit grower Nathan Kidd. With its 200m elevated site looking across the western Bay of Plenty, it is an idyllic spot. But, like most lifestyle blocks everywhere, it is a challenge to generate an income off.
However, Kidd has taken his lifelong interest in "growing stuff", along with his career experience with leading indoor growing tech company Bluelab, to master the challenge of growing passionfruit inside two large shelter house enclosures. He exports most of the highly prized fruit to the United States.
"Purple passionfruit produce well in that 20-30degC sweet spot, and that's always a challenge when you are growing them outdoors," said Kidd.
"The appeal was that they are a high value crop with great health benefits, averaging $40kg retail in NZ, and they can crop twice a year, which is very favourable compared to, say, kiwifruit."
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