Our regional groups have been active this season, with a number of meetings held or in the pipeline. From casual café catch-ups to truffle hunts and soil discussions, growers are coming together to share knowledge, build local networks, and discuss the challenges and opportunities in the truffle industry. Regional gatherings are advertised both through email announcements and on our website…read more.

There’s been a strong turnout in places like Rotorua, Otago, and Levin, where meetings have covered topics such as soil health, truffle grading, and culinary use of truffles. Some regions are exploring local branding initiatives, while others are keen to grow their understanding of export processes and the role of the NZTA and Co-op.

Common themes are emerging. Growers across New Zealand want more clarity around where and how to sell their truffles, what constitutes a “ripe” truffle, and how to protect immature truffles pushing through early. There’s also growing interest in understanding export requirements, improving truffle marketing, and building tools like checklists and soil profile databases to support growers from planting to harvest.

Calls for a more responsive and professional NZTA presence came through clearly. Members want faster replies to membership and website enquiries, more visibility for regional events, and better use of platforms like Mailchimp and Facebook to keep in touch. The idea of having a grower map, updated contact details, and listings for truffle dogs and services was also popular.

Suggestions from regional coordinators included hosting more social-style gatherings (think wine and cheese rather than boardroom tables), offering practical demos or dog trials, and encouraging established growers to attend and share their experience. There’s also talk of creating a private NZ-wide Facebook group or WhatsApp chat just for growers to stay connected between meetings.

Finally, there’s a recurring question: how exactly does NZTA help individual growers succeed? It’s a fair challenge — and one the Executive is keen to answer through better communication, support, and action. If you have ideas, or want to contribute, please email your regional coordinator, or contact Karen Drummond, the Regional Officer on regions@nztruffles.org.nz — we’d love to hear from you.

Let’s keep building on this momentum, region by region, block by block.