If greens traditionally keep children healthy, for Otago couple Hannah and Dale Jordan, greens have also provided family prosperity and happiness, in their case not by eating their greens, but by growing their greens.
In 2012 and with three young children the couple was interested in going into business: something food related, which also needed to fit around family life.
They found out about an existing Mosgiel hydroponics operation growing lettuces and spinach for distribution throughout the lower half of the South Island.
“We hummed and hawed for several months, then decided to jump in. At first it was a huge learning curve, though turned out to be really good for family dynamics,” says Hannah.
While she had grown up on a dairy farm, Hannah was working at Otago University, and Dale was an operator in a civil engineering firm. Starting the company they named Saddleview Greens, once they quit those jobs, as well as learning how to become growers, with several part time staff they also had to learn how to be employers.
“Looking after staff was our biggest new responsibility. That and learning how to run the three waste oil boilers that regulate the temperature in the hydroponic system.”
They also introduced kale to their repertoire of produce, and found a market for it.
Having learnt the business, it’s been stable, provided solid income and served as the basis for family life they were looking for. Now, with the children grown, working and making their own way, Hannah and Dale have decided to step away, bringing Paul Thomson of PGG Wrighston Real Estate, Dunedin on board to find a new owner for Saddleview Greens. Paul, who has jointly listed the property with his colleague Paul Urquhart, reckons it is an attractive family business.
“For new owners willing to make a commitment, Saddleview Greens has demonstrated its productivity.
“Sticking with the process and continuing to meet the demands of a well-established market, the business has a track record of several years solid profitability, while the option to diversify the range of produce could add to the variety and enhance the challenge for a new owner,” he says.
Hannah and Dale’s formula is to bring approximately 100,000 four- to five-week-old seedlings per month from a Christchurch supplier, planting them in the hydroponic gullies, where water and circulating nutrients are constantly added.
From seedling size to sellable, daylight governs how quickly the produce matures, which in summer is four weeks, while in winter can up to 10. Consented from the town supply and heated via the automated waste oil units, the water Saddleview Greens uses has around 260 kilograms of patented recipe nutrients added per month to keep the lettuces, spinach and kale growing steadily.
Customers ranging from Timaru to Invercargill include supermarkets, restaurants and cafes, mostly via strong relationships with well-established distributors. For Hannah, seeing their produce for sale in the local Mosgiel New World always gives her a buzz.
“I’m so proud of our product, and when I go to the supermarket, to stand in line while something we’ve grown goes through the checkout in someone else’s trolley is just so satisfying to see,” she says.
Another important legacy that the Jordans will hand on to a new owner is the six new tunnel houses they added, completed in 2014, almost doubling the capacity of Saddleview Greens, plus the replacement oil boilers and the back-up generator, which has paid for itself a few times over when they’ve suffered power cuts.
Included in the sale is a modern four-bedroom home with ensuite, main bathroom, open plan kitchen and living, separate lounge, small office and laundry.
Paul Thomson reckons the business is an ideal family formula.
“Great proximity to local schools and all community activities, either in Taieri or across the hill to Dunedin; easy access to staff; and stable regular cashflow to service all family requirements, with plenty of documented history to satisfy the bank if you need finance to take on the business. For the right family, Saddleview Greens is an opportunity to set up an ideal lifestyle,” he says.
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