In the middle of Levin there’s a slice of MG history. It’s home to the Pescini family, who can be traced back to the founding documents of Market Gardeners Limited.
In 1923 a small band of determined growers from around the Wellington region wanted to leverage greater value for their produce so they worked together to form an unlikely venture - a grower-owned produce market to serve the needs of local produce suppliers.
One of the original seven signatures on the Memorandum of Association for Market Gardeners Limited signed on 21 September 2023, was Justin Pescini, a market gardener from the Hutt Valley.
One hundred years on, Pescini Bros Limited are MG’s longest serving growers, over the years supplying everything from rhubarb to Italian tomatoes. Today, the business is based near Levin, and specialises in potatoes and onions across 250 hectares, with a lot of their product still sold through MG markets in the lower North Island. The business is owned and managed by fourth generation growers, Chris, Andy and Brent Pescini.
Speaking about their history, Chris said they moved out to Levin following the second World War, after the land the family owned was acquired by the railways.
“My grandfather, Justin, was one of the early Italian market gardeners in the region, where his family had five acres on the site where the Knox church is today,” says Chris.
“Because the railway was coming through part of their property, they looked further afield. First, they stopped near Tara Road, put a shovel in and it barely moved because of the stones so they carried on to settle near Queen Street East in Levin.”
Chris, Andy and Brent’s father, John Pescini, who has retired, was happy to share memories of MG and talk about his family’s involvement.
“Dad (Justin) had a reputation as someone who was hard but fair,” says John. “Setting up Market Gardeners was just about being fair - don’t be a burglar - treat everyone the same and don’t have favouritism.”
“I believe that around in Courtney place was where these fellas, a lot of Italian and Chinese growers, would have their breakfast after being at the markets and talk to one another. This is where the idea of Market Gardeners got talked about and, well, they did something about it".
“He (Justin) put forward 50 pounds to get MG off the ground which was a hell-of-a lot of money back then.” John reflected on changes in the industry, highlighting the impact technology has had over the years.
“When I was beginning I remember using the horse and cart and today the trucks we have on property are all four-wheel drive,” says John. “We came up with ideas - I remember cutting down an old car that someone had wrecked and convert it into a small truck to cart tomatoes around.”
“I drove our truck into the Wellington market for 41 years. We’d get to MG on Wakefield and Tory Street around two in the morning to get a good position to unload early. Growers who got in late, would have their produce towards the back and they'd not get a hell-of-a-lot for it."
“I’m still bloody capable of driving the tractor but they won’t let me,” John joked.
“Everything has moved on from carting it all with barrows and by hand to being all palletised and using forklifts,” adds Chris. “That made a big difference to how the industry operated.”
When asked about the value of being an MG shareholder, John said that while there are clear benefits now, historically it was less about the returns and more to do with supporting a grower’s market and the people at MG.
“They treat everyone well. I remember auctioneer, Allan Collins, he was really good to us, especially selling our tomatoes,” says John.
“Over the years it has slowly grown and if you look at the market today, compared to earlier, it’s booming.”
“MG will keep going because people have got to be fed and they work for the growers to help make that happen.”
John and Chris Pescini (left to right) Chris Pescini and MG Representative Andrew Body (left to right)