Southland company produces meat alternative nuggets – first for NZ markets

Meat-based nuggets are a thing of a past with the launch of a New Zealand-first product.

Southland-based vegetable producer So Sweet have just released their Frozen Parsnip Gems, the first ready-to-cook parsnip product of its kind.

Nuggets are no longer the realm of meat-based origin, the new Gems represents a move to meet new global food eating habits and the increased demand for plant-base alternatives.

So Sweet Managing Director Matthew Malcolm said he started working on the recipe over five years ago and trial batches were being taste tested at food shows from 2016, with the company excited to now finally introduce the product the public.

“Every food show we go to people cannot believe they are eating the humble parsnip. The cool thing about the Gems is they make a great afterschool snack or as a side to the family meal, but also fit very well as a side vegetable in a pub / family style restaurant with a dipping sauce on an anti-pesto platter.

We have all walks of life including children saying how great it tastes and come back asking for more and where they can buy them from” he said.

From January 2020, they are available in most New World Supermarkets around the South Island in New Zealand.

So Sweet Business Development Manager, Glen Malcolm said with plant-based diets gaining momentum globally, the demand for healthy convenience food would continue to grow, which was evidenced by both the hospitality industry and overseas markets showing interest in the Gems.

“Allowing us to export will give us the economy of scale to lower production costs which in turn lowers the price to the consumer,” he said.

The gems are currently available in a 400g retail pack, and 4 and 7kg bulk food service packs with plans to introduce a 1kg ‘Party pack’.

“An important part of the So Sweet story is traceability from our field to your freezer. Many frozen vegetables in NZ shelves come from raw material sourced from all over the world. Our frozen, ready to heat and eat product has essentially come off the farm and we have had control of that parsnip from its seed to the Gem in your hand,” he said.

Whether you’ve heard of So Sweet or not, there’s probably a good chance you’ve eaten their parsnips and carrots already – Southern Cross Produce produces half of New Zealand’s parsnips in supermarkets, and about 80 per cent of the country’s supermarkets with bunch carrots.

Proud vegetable producers, Southern Cross Produce only harvest what they need when orders are placed and from field to kitchen, the harvested vegetables are in supermarkets within days. This way, they can guarantee the freshness and quality of their produce.

A family-led business, Southern Cross Produce is a multi-generational business, spanning several decades. Their produce is passionately grown in the deep south, on their Woodlands farm where they employ 30 staff.

So Sweet Frozen Parsnip Gems are now available in South Island New World Supermarkets.