Picture this: snowy mountains, crisp air, and the stunning beech forests of Queenstown setting the scene for this year’s Truffle Conference. With a theme of “potential,” this year’s event was about exploring every possibility in the truffle world—from the first steps of planting to the intricacies of marketing.

Over two packed days, 53 attendees joined us for workshops and presentations designed for everyone from beginners to experienced producers. Each session was a chance to dig into topics like orchard startup, business growth, and beyond. A real standout was development chef Dale Bowie’s thought-provoking presentation, challenging us all to rethink the possibilities of our industry.

We closed out with a visit to the beautiful truffière at Black Quail Estate in Bannockburn, where Nico and Rod led us in an early truffle hunt. And after Saturday’s dinner, we took a moment to honor Ian Hall, the founding father of New Zealand’s truffle industry, whose work has paved the way for all of us.

The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and we’re thrilled that this conference continues to be a wonderful way to connect growers, enthusiasts, and service providers across New Zealand. Each year, we grow stronger as a community, and we’re excited to see what we can achieve together.