Orcona Chillis ‘N Peppers, located at Pakowhai Road, Hawkes Bay, have been growing chilli and capsicum plants in plastic and glasshouses since 2000. Current owners Alvin and Tricia Watson purchased the company in September 2014 from previous owners Anne Prescott and Kevin Baker.
Orcona grow a wide variety of chillis including jalapeno, cayenne, serrano, poblano, padrons and habaneros, sell fresh produce, and produce a range of chilli-based relishes, sauces, pickles, harissa paste, dried chillis and chilli flakes. All Orcona products are made from natural ingredients and are wheat, dairy and gluten free, apart from the Mint ‘N Chilli sauce, which is low gluten. They contain no added tomato, bulking agents, additives, colours, flavourings or preservatives and are nearly all manufactured on site in Orcona's own commercial kitchen.
Orcona Chillis ‘N Peppers are the only New Zealand producers of sweet smoked paprika flakes, made using Manuka wood, a renewable native timber with aromatic properties.
“Our Harissa paste won a Cuisine Artisan award in 2011 and we have just won three awards for our sauces at the 2015 Mr Chilli Awards in Australia, first place for our Sweet Thai Chilli and Ginger Sauce in the Sweet category, first place for our Chilli Plum Sauce in the Fruit category, and second place for our Hairy Cactus green Jalapeno sauce in the Jalapeno category,” Tricia said.
Orcona products are available online and at the Hastings farmers market, and sell to Farro Fresh stores, Moore Wilsons, Prenzel and several small selected specialty food stores around New Zealand.
For more information contact Tricia and Alvin Watson at orcona@xtra.co.nz.
