Horticulture specialists Skeltons now in BOP

Farmlands Trading Society Limited’s horticultural specialist company, Skeltons is now providing its complimentary technical advisory service to Bay of Plenty growers.

Dean Gower and Dwayne Farrington, who previously worked as Farmlands horticulture specialists in the region, are now part of the Skeltons team and backed by the 15-strong technical team based around the North Island, with access to the research and collective expertise built up over many years.

“The Skeltons team of advisors is hugely experienced in the growing industry,” says Ian Gold, Skeltons General Manager. “All of our advisors have had extensive practical experience, many of them on their own horticultural properties, and most have industry tertiary qualifications.

Our pool of knowledge, networks, and access to research and other experts is unrivalled.”
During 2008 Farmlands purchased Skeltons, a leading Hawke’s Bay based horticultural advisory and supplies company, with the intention of using the Skeltons model and expertise as a platform to grow its horticulture service into other areas.

The appointment of two local Bay of Plenty Skeltons advisors, coupled with the comprehensive and competitively priced range of horticulture products available in the Te Puna, Te Puke, Tauranga, Whakatane and Opotiki Farmlands stores, showed the Cooperative’s increased commitment to helping its horticulture shareholders grow their profitability,” says Farmlands Chief Executive Officer, Peter Ellis.
“Results from other regions where we have introduced the Skeltons service have shown us that Farmlands strength in product range pricing, coupled with Skeltons’ proven technical expertise is a winning combination for growers and producers,” says Ian Gold.

“New Zealand’s horticultural exports are worth billions each year with the Bay of Plenty region leading the country in Kiwifruit as well as being a key growing area for many other horticultural crops. In changing times, it is imperative that local growers gain access to new trends, practices and innovations. We are pleased to now improve our complimentary advisory support with the addition of Dean and Dwayne to the Skeltons’ team,” says Mr Gold.

Dean Gower has over two decades of experience within the horticultural industry with hands-on roles in kiwifruit and citrus orchards, technical advisory services to growers, and management expertise. He is based at the Farmlands Te Puke store and covers the northern Bay of Plenty area.


Dwayne Farrington has practical and technical knowledge built up over many years in the industry since graduating from Massey University with a degree in horticulture. Those years of

study were complemented by working in pip and stonefruit orchards and wineries in west Auckland.
Based at the Farmlands Opotoki store and covering through to the Whakatane area, Dwayne has a broad knowledge of fertiliser and chemical requirements to gain best results in many crops.

Skeltons’ service is available to Farmlands commercial horticultural shareholders.

www.skeltons.co.nz