Our morning began with a beautiful Auckland sunrise followed by a traditional New Zealand breakfast at the hotel. We then loaded the bus and headed for Balle Brothers vegetable growers located in Pukekohe, where more than 44 inches of rain falls each year, which enhances yield and profitability of vegetable crops. They are the biggest vegetable growers in New Zealand. Balle Brothers produce mainly onions, potatoes, and carrots as well as cauliflower, pumpkin, and sweet potatoes. They harvest 10 months out of the year and processing can operate up to 22 hours a day at peak times. Balle Brothers’ level of production is a good example of how New Zealand, a country with 4.7 million people, can produce enough food to feed roughly twenty million people, with 60% of their produce exported fresh to Asia, Indonesia, and Europe. Balle Bros is operated by 7 brothers, who also operate a dairy farm in Chile. They strive for a maximum of 10% waste off all fresh produce. The waste products are th...