Page 4 - Fifty-fifty July 2021

For James, the important thing is maintaining a present, James is able to concentrate on other
relationship with his customers. This is frequently projects. NZ Onions supports three students, two at
something that NZ businesses do not understand. We Lincoln and one at Massey University with
need to better understand what it is that our scholarships. One of the Indonesian students who
customers want. Especially in places like Asia and was doing his PhD is also getting some work from
Indonesia, the customers want to have an James.
understanding of where the product comes from and
what sort of organisation is selling it. He explained that the reason research is needed is
that it takes twelve years to develop a new variety of
The Indonesian Embassy’s support has been onion and while most of us think in terms of brown
invaluable for NZ Onions. NZ now exports directly to onions, red onions, shallots and garlic, there are in
Jakarta, rather than via Singapore and then onto fact 40 varieties of onion available in New Zealand.
Indonesia. And, this relationship is beneficial to
Indonesian farmers who have with NZ help, improved The breakdown is thirty varieties of brown onion and
their shallot production. There has been support to ten varieties of red onion. And I learned that each
help reduce the amount of chemical sprays used and variety has a distinct and subtly different flavour.
also by looking at the soil chemistry to reduce any James has been a very good friend to NZIA and we
unwanted fertiliser application. are confident that we will continue to have a great
relationship with NZ Onions, our main sponsor. (/JG)
Prior to Covid, James was travelling to Indonesia at
least twice a year and also visiting three other
countries that NZ exports onions to. He also
represents New Zealand at Horticultural Trade shows
so that James has a very busy timetable. This takes
time, but with the travel not being an option at

ONION JOKES

I n c a s e y o u t h o u g h t o n i o n j o k e s a r e v e r y h i g h b r o w , I c a n a s s u r e y o u t h e y a r e a n y t h i n g b u t – a
s a m p l e i s b e l o w .

T h e B e e G e e s w e r e s u c h f a n s o f o n i o n s t h a t t h e y e v e n d e d i c a t e d a s o n g t o i t . T h e y n a m e d i t
' C h i v e s T a l k i n g ' .
T h e o l d a n d w i s e o n i o n h a d o n c e t o l d m e t h a t l i f e i s s i m i l a r t o o n i o n s . W h e n e v e r w e p e e l o f f
o u r p r o t e c t i v e l a y e r s , w e e n d u p c r y i n g .
A s t w o o n i o n s w e r e c r o s s i n g t h e r o a d , o n e o f t h e m w a s r u n o v e r b y a c a r . U p o n b e i n g r u s h e d t o
t h e h o s p i t a l , t h e d o c t o r i n f o r m e d t h e o t h e r o n i o n , " I h a v e s o m e n e w s t h a t i s g o i n g t o m a k e y o u
c r y ! "
O n i o n s a r e u n a b l e t o s t o r e w a t e r i n s i d e t h e m b e c a u s e t h e r e i s a l w a y s a l e e k .
I n m y f r i e n d ' s h o u s e , I s a w a n o n i o n r i n g . S o , I p i c k e d i t u p a n d a n s w e r e d i t .
I r e c e n t l y b o u g h t m y g r a n d s o n a v e g e t a b l e - t h e m e d p o g o s t i c k e x c l u s i v e l y m a d e f r o m s p r i n g
o n i o n s .
O n w h i c h w e b s i t e w i l l y o u l e a r n a b o u t t h e h i d d e n g o s s i p s a n d s e c r e t s o f t h e o n i o n w o r l d ? O n
t h e w e b s i t e W i k i - L e e k s .
W h a t h a p p e n e d w h e n t h e o n i o n t r i e d t o c r o s s t h e b r i d g e g u a r d e d b y G a n d a l f ? G a n d a l f
s h o u t e d : " Y o u s h a l l o t p a s s t h i s b r i d g e ! "

FIFTYFIFTY | ISSUE 17 4