GROW LOCAL FOOD – Marlborough producers feeding Marlborough people

This submission seeks the development of a Marlborough District Council Local Food Strategy. Objectives would include:  

- Recognise the importance of local food production for regional development, disaster resilience and adapting to climate change

- Enable more commercial growing of fruit and vegetables for local sale

- Identify what logistical support is needed, including mechanisms such as rates remission, to incentivise land use change and diversification for local food production

The Wairau Plain 50 years ago looked very different to the landscape we have today. Apples, pears, cherries, apricots, nectarines, strawberries, raspberries, boysenberries, garlic, pumpkins, cabbages, peas, corn, beans, asparagus and other food crops were all grown on a commercial scale.

This landscape changed with the development of vineyards and the higher returns that could be made from growing grapes. The wine industry has brought significant economic benefits to the region and built a strong brand for Marlborough. However, depending on a single crop reduces the region’s resilience if there is an economic or environmental threat to that industry. We are currently experiencing this as changes in drinking habits, declining global demand and grape oversupply have led to some vineyards being pulled out and bare land remaining. A Local Food Strategy would provide guidance and support for a change in land use to more diverse food production.

Demand for fresh, locally grown food has already been shown by the success of community gardens run by volunteers throughout the district, and the queues at the Marlborough Farmers’ Market.

Benefits

There are a wide range of benefits to Marlborough people from having more locally grown food but there needs to be a coherent and supported approach to make this happen. Benefits include:

- Food resilience in natural disaster – supporting local communities when national distribution systems fail

- Diversified land use to reduce the impact of economic shock in one industry

- New businesses and the creation of jobs

- Support for residents during the cost-of-living crisis. Local food hubs are a logical competitor to the supermarket duopoly. Consumers can buy at a lower price direct from growers, eg. Roadside stalls, home deliveries, Marlborough Farmers’ Market

- Growers can establish direct sales and improved margins through local outlets, eg. rest homes, restaurants, cafes, greengrocers. Ideally in the future, growers would also be able to supply local supermarkets direct without bearing the costs, risks and uncertainty as identified by the 2025 Commerce Commission supermarket competition review

- Availability of fresh, nutritious produce. Seasonal surplus could be donated to food banks

- Tourism opportunities building on Marlborough’s wine and food reputation, eg. food destination events and experiences such as Feast Marlborough, Pick Your Own fruit, a wide range of local produce at markets and in restaurants.

- Reduced carbon emissions with food travelling a short distance to local buyers, rather than Marlborough produce being sent to a Christchurch hub then distributed back to Marlborough supermarkets

- An opportunity to reduce environmental impact and increase resilience by promoting regenerative farming practices

A Local Food Strategy is important for the benefits listed above. It also provides an opportunity to work with iwi to enable development of Māori land and meet Council objectives in the Marlborough Environment Plan and Council’s Long Term Plan 2024-34.

The MEP and LTP recognise the importance of regional development, disaster resilience and adapting to climate change, all of which would be enhanced by a Local Food Strategy.

Council policy background
Chapter 4 of the MEP (Sustainable Management of Natural and Physical Resources, Objective 4.1) says:
“The Marlborough economy has historically been based on its primary industries and the processing of product from these industries. Agriculture, horticulture, viticulture, forestry, fishing and marine farming continue to contribute significantly to our economy and therefore our economic wellbeing. For this reason, it is important that the primary sector, as well as related servicing and processing industries, continue to thrive… the Council also plays an important role in this context by allocating public resources, removing unnecessary barriers to resource use and enabling appropriate adaptation to climate change.”

At a time when locally produced food is increasingly important, we need to find ways to make growing food an economic and attractive proposition. That need is urgent, with Spring Creek market garden Golden Mile Produce up for sale, and Spuds n Greens on Old Renwick Road recently closing. As growers retire, their knowledge of how to grow commercial food crops is lost. Encouraging new horticultural enterprises would retain that knowledge and provide training and educational opportunities to build a thriving sector.

Page 338 of the MDC 2024-34 Long Term Plan, Regional Development, says:
“Regional Development is needed by significant portions of the Marlborough community to assist the District to achieve its economic development outcomes, in particular attracting visitors, residents and investment to Marlborough… and in turn adding value to Marlborough enterprises and enriching the quality of life for Marlborough residents.”

There are precedents for MDC assisting economic development in different business sectors, for example:

- Business Trust Marlborough – free and confidential advice for new and existing businesses to enable them to thrive

- Te Au Pūngao/Technology and Innovation Hub – a space designed to support startups, innovators, and entrepreneurs by providing a collaborative environment and resources in areas such as agri-tech and sustainability.

 - Te Rito Hiranga o Wairau/Marlborough Research Centre – a track record of research into diverse crops and changing land use in Marlborough. MRC has a network of contacts to help develop a strategy that supports food diversification.  

- Aquaculture – marine farmers have not been charged any fees for occupying and using the public water space for their business

A Local Food Strategy would explore ways that Council could enable commercial food growing businesses as part of encouraging regional development. There are already mechanisms that could be adapted for this (Page 350 of 2024-34 Long Term Plan: Rates Remission and Postponement Policies).

A strategy that encourages regional food production would also play a part in disaster resilience. Page 337 of the MDC 2024-34 Long Term Plan, Emergency Management, says:

Regional and national communities need an emergency response capability; knowledge of hazards; and measures to mitigate and contain harmful effects to minimise the damage to the community and speed recovery.

Access to food is vital during emergencies such as earthquakes, extreme weather events and pandemics. When national food distribution is disrupted, regional food security comes into its own.

Climate change is listed as a factor expected to have a significant impact on the 2024-34 Long Term Plan. Having a Local Food Strategy would contribute to Council meeting its Climate Change Action Plan goals of reducing carbon emissions, becoming more resilient to the impacts of climate change, and showing clear leadership on climate change issues (LTP page 171).

What other regions are doing

Several regions in New Zealand have already produced Local Food Strategies and could provide ideas and a framework for Marlborough:

- Good Food Dunedin – Dunedin City Council

https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/services/business-support/good-food-dunedin

- Manawatū Regional Food Strategy – Palmerston North City Council, Manawatū District Council and the Central Economic Development Agency

https://manawatunz.co.nz/business/sectors/foodstrategy/

- Buller Foodshed and Food System Report

https://knect.org.nz/project/food-economy/

In summary, a Marlborough Local Food Strategy would provide a road map to create a diversified and reliable food system involving Council, landowners, growers, consumers, retailers, distributors, marketers, researchers and funding agencies.

The need for regional food resilience combined with vineyard land becoming available creates the opportunity to start work now to grow more food for the future.

Submitted by Bev Doole with support from:
Tim Newsham, Marlborough Environment Centre

John Patterson, Marlborough Research Centre

Jennie Crum, grower and stallholder at Marlborough Farmers’ Market

Catherine van der Meulen, Climate Action Marlborough