Taranaki-grown garlic is now available at New World New Plymouth for a limited time, marking a significant milestone for the region’s land use diversification efforts under the Branching Out project, led by Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki, the regional development agency.

The garlic, grown through pilot trials with regional landowners, is the first crop from the initiative to enter a mainstream retail channel. The milestone reflects positive progress in efforts to identify and test commercially viable alternative crops suited to local conditions.

"Garlic is a widely consumed product in New Zealand, but the majority sold on the supermarket shelves is imported - primarily from China and North America," says Michelle Bauer, Branching Out Project Lead, Venture Taranaki.

"This work explores whether high-quality garlic can be grown and cured in Taranaki in a way that is sustainable, commercially viable, and appealing to customers - right through to testing interest and uptake in retail channels."

Consumer demand for locally grown produce has increased in recent years, driven by interest in food provenance, flavour, resilience, and a reduced environmental footprint.

"New Zealand-grown garlic is valued for its freshness, depth of flavour, and culinary appeal," continues Bauer.

Richard Ponder, Executive Chef, Haukai Bistro and Bar, Ngāmotu Novotel, agrees, saying, "The Taranaki-grown garlic has a lovely creaminess and a slight nuttiness that sets it apart. There’s a good depth of flavour-none of the bitterness you often get with imported garlic. It’s a standout ingredient that’s right at home in our kitchen - and we’re looking forward to showcasing it at our upcoming Puanga Dinner."

Why could this be important for the region?

Preliminary results from the garlic trials, conducted over the past year at several sites across the region, have indicated an encouraging performance in terms of yield and quality - with some sites exceeding 85+% of premium grade garlic.

"We’re on the way to proving that landowners and farmers can grow new, profitable crops like garlic," continues Bauer. "The region’s combination of fertile soils, favourable growing conditions, and an engaged community makes it well-placed to capitalise on this and other diversification opportunities such as gin botanicals and medicinal plants."

Further optimization will be required by building on the results of the trials to date, but garlic is already considered a high-value crop, with market interest also growing for processed garlic forms, including black garlic, pastes, and freeze-dried variants, offering higher margins and export potential.

The potential for Taranaki to plant and harvest earlier than other regions is also emerging as a point of difference.

"Taranaki may be able to supply fresh garlic to the domestic market ahead of other growing regions - potentially aligning with increased demand in the lead-up to Christmas," says Bauer.

What’s next for Taranaki-grown garlic?

Earlier this year, the Branching Out project received funding to conduct scientific sensory research to better understand the flavour and aroma profile of garlic grown in Taranaki. Funding was provided through the 2024 ‘Pivot - Enabling Innovation in Agriculture Award’, co-funded by the Bashford-Nicholls Trust and Massey University.

"This will be an exciting piece of work for us," said Bauer. "The research will compare Taranaki garlic, processed into garlic butter, with samples from other regions in New Zealand and overseas. These insights will help growers better characterise product quality and support future positioning for high-value applications in food, personal care, and nutraceutical sectors-ultimately delivering economic benefit to the region."

Garlic trials will continue across multiple sites through the upcoming season, with further analysis on yields, market feedback, and post-harvest quality helping to inform long-term commercial potential.

Want to stay up to date?

Branching Out invites farmers, landowners, industry leaders, and locals to follow the project’s journey by signing up to our newsletter. Or, if you’re a landowner and are interested in learning about land diversification options, register here for a 15-minute discovery call with the Branching Out team.