We’re incredibly proud to include Biofarm organic yoghurt in our Mai Kai boxes. It’s more than just delicious. It’s a legacy of organic integrity, community values, and a deep commitment to the whenua.

Biofarm has been certified organic since 1986, making it one of the longest standing organic farms in Aotearoa. It is still run by its original owners, Jamie and Cathy Tait Jamieson. Their work has laid the foundation for organic farming in this country, and their values align beautifully with what we are building through Mai Kai.

They were also the first producers to receive the Hua Parakore tohu. This is a tohu of food integrity under Te Waka Kai Ora, which acknowledges Māori values in food production.

Way back in 2019, as Mai Kai was still forming, Cathy shared her whakaaro with us. These are reflections that have stayed with us ever since. Her vision speaks to the heart of what we are trying to create:

“I’m thinking about the old vegetable delivery vans. The farmers markets on wheels that travelled around town, selling food directly to people.

That model gave people a real connection with their food. You knew where it came from. You saw the people who grew it. These days you see a version of it with things like meat caravans or the fish truck, but when it comes to modern meal delivery boxes, there is often no connection to the source.

The supermarket is convenient, so anything that replaces it has to be just as easy, but with added benefits. For me, the real benefit is building connectedness. It is not just about the milk or the veggies. It is about the people you bump into, the chats you have while you wait.

I went to India and saw a community that lost its heart when a central well was replaced with individual taps. The well was where people gathered, arranged marriages, shared stories. When it was gone, that social glue disappeared.

And that is the challenge for us now. Not just to grow the food, or distribute it, but to make sure we are building community around it.”

Cathy’s words are a powerful reminder that good food is never just about nutrients. It is about people, place, whakapapa, and purpose. At Mai Kai, we are working hard to rekindle those old rhythms. Nourishing bodies while rebuilding the relationships and spaces that keep us connected.

So when you spoon Biofarm yoghurt onto your porridge or into your smoothie, know that you are tasting more than just quality kai. You are tasting a vision for food sovereignty, connection, and intergenerational wellbeing.

Ngā mihi nui to Biofarm, and to Jamie and Cathy, for walking this path with us.