NZI Rural Women NZ Business Awards 2022

Innovation Winner: Hopefield Hemp – Jody Drysdale from Riversdale, Southland

Jody Drysdale is Southland born and bred. Jody and husband Blair (Blocka) had been looking for ways to diversify their farming operation to include a value-add, direct to consumer product and they decided on hemp. After undergoing the rigorous certification process, they planted their first crop which quickly flourished.

The fast growing crop required some nimble decision making and research to turn that crop into products. Today, Hopefield Hemp grows, harvests, presses and markets hemp seed oil. It is small batch pressed and is available in bottles and capsules. In response to one of her children experiencing skin irritation, Jody researched and developed a recipe to make a soothing cream using her hemp seed oil and Hopefield Hemp’s skin care range was launched.

Hopefield Hemp is very much a family business and building connection with customers is hugely important to Jody. She produces a newsletter every three months which is sent to Hopefield’s customers to keep them up with what is happening on the farm. Like all great innovators, Jody and Blair have a nothing ventured, nothing gained approach to their business and already have an eye to the future.

Website: www.hopefieldhemp.co.nz

Award Sponsor: Hynds Rural