— it’s part of who we are. For generations, we’ve worked the land, introduced new varieties, and stayed true to our roots to bring New Zealand a vegetable that’s both versatile and nourishing. Our story is one of innovation and care, built on a strong foundation of tradition and quality.
Fields of Choice & Taste
Red kumara may be the classic favourite, but we’ve expanded the family. Today, we grow four delicious varieties: Red, Gold, Orange and Purple. Each brings its own colour, flavour, and texture to the table. Whether you’re roasting, mashing or creating something new, there’s a Delta kumara to suit every style of cooking.
Kumara has grown beyond the Sunday roast. Chefs, food lovers and families are exploring new ways to use it – from colourful dips to healthy bowls and inventive sides. With bold flavours and well-known health benefits, kumara continues to grow in popularity across all types of kitchens.
From the first cuttings in nursery beds to harvesting in our carefully prepared gardens, every kumara is grown with care. We follow strict growing standards, hand sort our crops, and store them in ideal conditions to deliver the freshest produce. The result: quality kumara available all year round.
Kumara was first brought to New Zealand by Māori settlers — a crop chosen for its resilience, nutrition, and long shelf life. Grown across the North Island, it quickly became a staple in the Māori diet. Today, we carry on this legacy using responsible, certified growing practices.
Delta is a grower-owned kumara co-operative made up of 20 dedicated growers. Our packhouse is based in Dargaville, with all growers farming within a 15-kilometre radius.
Together, Delta growers produce around 1,200 acres of kumara each year, yielding 20,000–24,000 field bins (10,000–12,000 tonnes). This represents approximately 45% of New Zealand's total kumara supply.
Technology & Innovation
Delta began in 1992 when a group of growers built a central packhouse to wash and grade kumara to a consistent standard. In 2002, local growers were invited to become shareholders, and the business became a co-operative — supporting long-term supply to key customers.
Over time, we've continued to invest in technology. In 2021, we introduced camera-based grading, and we remain the only kumara packhouse in New Zealand using this system.
Environmental
Washing removes mud and dirt, and we work to minimise the amount of fresh water we draw from the town supply. Our water-recycling system means we only need a top-up of around 5m³ per day.
We've also installed solar panels with the capacity to supply up to 100% of our power needs in summer, with excess power exported back to the grid. In winter, we use what we can from solar and draw the balance from the grid.
Community Support
Delta is proud to support local and regional community groups including the Northland Emergency Services Trust, Dargaville Rotary Club, Kauri Coast Fishing Competition, Northern Wairoa Golf Club, Dargaville High School, The Village Community Trust, The Salvation Army, Rodney College, Northern Wairoa A&P Show, Dargaville Combined Churches Food Bank, Sport Northland — Kai Iwi Lakes Triathlon, Kids Day Out, Radio Lollipop, Pakotai Parakao Community Group, Te Kopuru School, Selwyn Park School, Dargaville Primary School, Kaihu Valley Rugby Club, Southern Rugby Club, and Northern Wairoa Rugby.
Employment
Delta is proud to be a major employer in the Dargaville community. We maintain a core team of 40 permanent staff, providing stable, year-round employment thanks to our consistent supply of kumara. During the winter months — when demand for kumara on New Zealand tables reaches its peak — we expand our workforce with an additional crew of seasonal employees.
Our ability to operate throughout the year means we can offer reliable jobs to local people, contributing to the economic strength and wellbeing of the wider Kaipara region.
