35,000...

Yes. Thirty-five thousand! That is the number of tomato plants growing at Leighton Sadler's property at Makaraka. This is the largest planting of tie-up tomatoes in the district this season and is a full time job for Leighton and his staff, which numbers up to ten according to picking conditions.

The tomato season lasts from September, when planting commences, to July, when picking ceases. The soil at Makaraka is particularly suitable for tomatoes and ammo-phos is the only manure used to gain that extra size and flavour.

As well as marketing locally, hundreds of cases are freighted to Rotorua, Tauranga, Hawkes Bay and Manawatu.

×

 

• 

Tomato plants surround Leighton Sadler in all directions as he inspects some of the plants.

×

 

• 

Moana Te Kahu, Tauranga Kapa and Mrs Judy Marshall are three of the employees gathering the fruit.

×

 

• 

Leighton nails down a 201b case.