Photo: Supplied / MPIOne of New Zealand's largest buttercup squash growers is diving into Asia's alternative proteins market with a plant-based milk. The Ministry for Primary Industries contributed more than $95,000 through its Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund to help boost Kabocha Milk Co's efforts to formulate, manufacture, and market a shelf-stable kabocha milk recipe that would appeal to consumers in Japan, Korea, China, and beyond. "It's immensely satisfying to have hit upon a new opportunity for New Zealand's kabocha industry." Newman said while all their product would go offshore, they were using local farmers, local R&D and local manufacturers, packaging, and domestic logistics companies. "New Zealand growers already have very high credibility among consumers, so we emphasise the product's origin story in our marketing," said Newman.

Source: Otago Daily Times August 16, 2021 02:03 UTC