#growlink

Key Takeaways Funding Announcement: Growlink has closed a $2 million seed financing round led by Casa Verde, marking its first external funding after 10 years of profitable operation. Company Background: Growlink, co-founded by Ted Tanner and David Holmes, is a leading provider of IoT controllers, sensors, and cultivation software for controlled environment agriculture (CEA). Expansion Plans:…

Ginger is a tuberous vegetable with brown skin & pale yellow flesh. It has a pungent, spicy aroma & characteristic taste. The taste that ginger imparts to a dish depends upon when it is added during the cooking process. Added at the beginning, it will lend a subtler flavour while added near the end, it will deliver a more pungent taste Keep in a cool dry place, away from sunlight. Generally peeled & finely chopped, sliced or grated. Provides a wonderful flavour for stir-fries, salads, fruit crumbles, soups, in marinades. Is a good accompanying flavour for pork, beef, chicken & fish. Ginger can be added to almost any meal for flavouring, in place of sugar dense bottle sauces www.growlink.co.nz/ginger

New Seasons Superb sweet flavour, succulent flesh These nuggety little champions have made it through the worst & most widespread hailstorm in recent memory. The fruit has a few battle scars on the outside but still the same delicious flavour on the inside. Grown in the Hawkes Bay The word Nectarine means "sweet as Nectar" coined for obvious reasons Nectarines got their name after a Chinese emperor referred to them as “nectar of the gods”. Great source of vitamin C, with low Sodium & low in calories Nectarines contain bioflavonoid anti-oxidants that reduce inflammation, prevent cancer, protect the brain, & guard cells from wear & tear of aging. www.growlink.co.nz/fruit/nectarine-800gram

Rich in minerals & vitamins apricots are delicious eaten raw & in salads, added to baking & desserts. Apricots can be used to make excellent jams, preserves, chutneys, pickles, puddings, sauces, stuffings & they dry very well too. Apricots are packed full of nutrients & provide a healthy dose of vitamin C Apricots are full of beta carotene, a free radical fighting anti-oxidant that helps prevent cell damage Three apricots provide you with 10% of your daily fibre needs, 3 grams. www.growlink.co.nz/fruit/apricots-1kg

Sweet & Juicy Perfect for the lunch box or a snack Peaches grow on deciduous trees 5-10m tall. Once planted a peach tree can take up to four years to produce fruit. The fruit is picked by hand to avoid damaging the delicate flesh. Peaches were one of the first fruits to be grown in New Zealand, With stones being introduced by Whalers in the early 19th Century. www.growlink.co.nz/peaches12?filter_name=peaches

500 Grams Katikati Grown Cook for just a few minutes to maximise the health benefits, & add a splash of a healthy oil to maximise absorption of the carotenoids. Courgettes are great in fritters, frittatas, quiches, cakes, soups, pickle. Steam, Boil, Microwave, Bake, Braise, Stir-fry, Stew, Roast, Stuffed, Barbecued or Grill Courgettes. Courgette slices require 5-7 minutes to steam Particularly good in stir fries & barbecues or filled with a savoury stuffing & baked. Use raw in salads... Can also be grated or finely chopped & used in flans or quiches. Like Carrots, they also make delicious, moist cakes & breads. Courgettes originated in Italy & were popular in the Mediterranean region hundred of years before they became popular in the rest of the western world Refrigerate in plastic bags, Use promptly Courgettes contain very few calories & have a high water content, which makes them a dieter's friend. They aren't a powerhouse of micronutrients, but they do provide useful amounts of immune system-boosting vitamin C, & significant levels of potassium, which is key to controlling blood pressure. The soluble fibre in the skin slows down digestion, & so stabilises blood sugar & insulin levels. Soluble fibre also helps prevent constipation & relieves irritable bowel symptoms. Courgettes are the 14th most popular vegetable in New Zealand. Courgettes are an excellent source of luetin, a carotenoid nutrient known for it's powerful anti-oxidant power. Try these ideas with courgettes: Saute slices with pinenuts & lemon zest Slice lengthwise, chargrill & use in wraps, sandwiches, rolls & baps Slice, drizzle with olive oil & sprinkle with sesame seeds & roast Grate or julienne & use in salads, omelettes & frittatas Finely sliced & stirred through wholemeal pasta & top with grated parmesan Spread toasted ciabatta with tahini & yoghurt & top with char grilled courgette slices Saute courgette 'noodles' with garlic & basil Make into soup with minced lemon grass & chilli sauce Braise chunks with chopped onions & olive oil, stir through baby spinach at the end of cooking Grate & use in cakes, muffins, loaves & pizza bases Make into pickles with onion, turmeric & yellow mustard seeds Grate & use in fritters with feta or bacon Coat thin slices with tempura batter & fry Steam, whole or in chunks & serve topped with wasabi mayo Sliced with sliced eggplant & tomato baked with a little olive oil & rosemary in ramekins Mix grated courgette & cheddar with quinoa & use as a filling for filo pastry pass-arounds www.growlink.co.nz/courgette-bag