Allan Fong
url: http://tvnz.co.nz/country-calendar/episode-5-green-fingers-3403018
Green Fingers'
Members of Allan Fong's family ask him to slow down - but he's one of those energetic innovators who don't know how to stop.
Allan runs a successful market garden business with his brother, Colin, and wife Loretta, at Pukekohe, growing 500 hectares of vegetables.
Some of his land is owned outright, other blocks are leased - but the scale of the enterprise is a far cry from the few acres that his grandfather leased in the area nearly 60 years ago after he emigrated from China.
Allan's father was a market gardener too, and when he became ill Allan took over the farm at the age of sixteen. Fortunately Allan has a passion for growing quality vegetables and has no regrets about starting so young.
To coordinate such a big market garden business, he can work up to 15 hours a day - but he says that's not unusual among market gardeners and farmers.
Allan has a strong entrepreneurial streak. His dream has been to bring vertical integration into the business: raising plants from seed in a large nursery, growing crops, processing and packaging them, brokering and delivering the produce to wholesalers and retailers, and marketing and promoting his brand directly to consumers.
His advertising has a cheeky quality to attract young people to fresh vegetables, with slogans such as "Just be Cos" to sell his cos lettuces and "Bok Choice" for his bok choy.
At weekends he is often found at shops, field days and food shows interacting with his customers - often accompanied by his son, Ryan, a trained chef.
He loves demonstrating his own easy recipes for favourite dishes, especially bok choy and a new variety of slender-stemmed broccoli.
Many people ask him for tips on how to grow vegetables. He likes the latest trend towards home gardening because he believes home gardeners have a greater awareness of freshness and quality, which will translate into better business for his own enterprises.
As if there isn't enough to keep Allan busy, he also acts as a manager and roadie for his daughter, Jessica, who's establishing herself as a singer.
And he's still dreaming up new ideas - like setting up a pick-your-own organic vegetable garden and cafe.
More information
More info on Alan's vegetables
The mesclun, ready-made-salad business
