Canterbury Quinoa

Introducing our quinoa producer, Andrew Currie, farmer and grower of many crops! Avonmore Farm is 300 hectares of cropping land in Methven, Canterbury. Andrew’s journey into speciality crops began 15-20 years ago when grass weed problems prompted a search for alternative broadleaf crops.

 
“In 1962 my father brought in around 20 different types of seeds after a Young Farmer trip abroad including canary seed and Hungarian millet, which we still grow. We were searching for something reliable and we like growing unique and different crops”.

 
A meeting with a mill in Timaru over a decade ago further parked Andrews interest in ancient grains, leading to trials with quinoa and amaranth. After careful evaluation quinoa emerged as the clear winner due to superior yield and value compared to alternatives.
“It’s a whole food in itself - high in amino acids and protein.” Andrew has continued to refine his quinoa production by importing new varieties from Denmark and the Netherlands that offer better yields and lower levels of saponin - the bitter coating naturally found on quinoa seeds.

 
Quinoa is just one of the variety of crops Avonmore Farm grows including Hungarian and German millet, certified malting barley, garden peas, linseed, canary seed and grass seed. “I have got diesel in my blood and love driving a tractor. I’ll always be a cropping farmer.”

Andrew is actually most famous for his sunflowers. Every year he plants sunflowers along the Methven Highway that are free for the public because he is on a mission to bring bring a smile to people's faces.

 
“Canterbury Quinoa is a superfood locally grown spray free and with organic practises here in Canterbury, New Zealand. It cuts out all those food miles you might be worried about. Quinoa is a nutrition dense gluten free seed containing high levels of protein, vitamins, minerals, and fibre to help you stay full for longer. Quinoa has so many health benefits, eating it every day has got to be good for you. Breakfast lunch and dinner there are so many choices. Harvested here in Canterbury it needs no heat treatment or irradiation. We bring it fresh to your door at a price you can afford.”
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