Working as an engineer for Rocket Lab seems like a world away from growing avocados, grapes, citrus and apples on the family orchard in Gisborne. However, when the previous four generations of your family have been growers, it seems to get into your blood.
That’s the case for Sam Tietjen, who returned home to manage Braemark Vineyards.
A key to being a good grower is about being adaptable and it is this tradition that as been inherited from those who came before him. Early generations of the Tietjen family used the Gisborne property for cattle. Over time, as land was passed down, the way the land was used varied.
“My great-grandfather moved from the other side of Gisborne and brought this land,” says Sam. “He slowly built and expanded and over time it got split up.”
“This road is now full of Tietjens. Grandad had two brothers so it got divided up and now pockets have been passed on again with a number of my cousins in the area growing maize, kiwifruit, citrus, avocados and all sorts of stuff.”
It was Sam’s passion for making horticulture commercially viable that saw him take on the management of the family business five years ago.
“The reason I came home was to develop some of that bare land with some higher value products and give the orchard the legs for the future,” says Sam.
“It was getting to the point where we needed to do something to invigorate the business or we were going to have to start selling blocks of land.”
“I wanted to give it a real go. I felt that if I didn’t, it would be a wasted opportunity.”
“It’s my brother, my dad and myself who are shareholders and we have two full timers, along with a number of casual and seasonal workers who help out."
Sam was determined to do things differently to ensure long-term success when he took on the day-to-day management.
His background working in the technology sector has given him a fresh perspective on the industry. That meant reviewing the land use and putting in place a plan to diversify from what was traditionally grapes grown for a local wine co-op, to a wider range of crops which would deliver long-term value.
“My old man was happy to step aside and has really supported anything we wanted to do. I think a lot of parents struggle to let go and that can hold back the children.”
“We always had grapes and a bit of citrus. We introduced more citrus and what we did which was different is add Rockit apples and Avogrey Greenskin avocados."
While looking for new, high value products often involved a global search, Sam didn’t need to go beyond the back paddock to source New Zealand’s newest, and arguably best avocado varieties.
Developed over decades on the neighbouring property by David and Judi Grey, the Avogrey Greenskins are exclusively marketed by the MG Group, with the first season of commercial volumes from Braemark Vineyard being sold by MG in May 2024.
“We heard about the Avogrey varieties really early on through David and he was happy to share information about them.”
“I tried the fruit and it was clear that it’s different, so decided to give it a crack. We ordered trees in 2019, planted in November 2020 and have now just started moving volumes to market."
“We’ve adopted a growing system with smaller trees at a higher density which are in rows rather than grids.”
“I love the product. It’s just so consistent every time you eat it. Sometimes you can eat a Hass and there’s some give around the outside, but when you cut in it’s still firm in the middle. Avogreys ripen really evenly and the flavour is just great.”
Sam and the team at Braemark Vineyards work closely with a number of the MG Procurement team, distributing the product throughout the MG Group’s network of branches.
“We work with Mike Breitmeyer and Scott Mason with the avocados and put citrus through MG so also work a lot with Jamie Russ.”
“They are great. There’s definitely a camaraderie feel from MG. They’re all mates and you get a good feel.”