September 2024 (Edition 40)

CHERRY HILL COOLSTORES &
TASMANIAN SEED POTATOES

SEPTEMBER 2024

In our September newsletter, Edition 40, we’d like to share with you our Cherry Hill season report, plus a new historical series, Adventures of Amos – the first Langmaid in Tasmania. We also report on our POTATOEUROPE 2024 plans and congratulate Wayne on his recent McCain Contribution to Industry Award. Read on for these stories and more…

Pictured above: At the recent McCain dinner, Wayne was the proud recipient of a Contribution to Industry award from our growers for his many years of excellent service. Congratulations Wayne!

IN THIS ISSUE

SEASON REPORT

Pictured left to right: Lynette Nankervis, Wayne Maxwell, Andrew Vandenberg, Justin Johnson, Iris Bacosa, Conor O’Doherty, Andrew Langmaid, Dominy O’Doherty and Pam Langmaid.

It has been a very different year compared to the last one, and all seed lines are looking pretty good.

We’ve been running new cutting line trials, in anticipation of some new equipment which will arrive in January 2025. This trial has allowed us research and development time, and to see how our existing procedures, systems, and staff, will fit around the new equipment.

Wayne has done an excellent job of managing the storage of everyone’s seed. We currently have 11,500 tonnes of seed potatoes in storage. By the week of 1st September, we’d pre-cut over 9,000 tonnes of seed – almost three quarters of our seed in storage.

In anticipation of planting commencing in mid-September, we’ll soon start warming up the seed for everyone.

TASMANIAN SEED POTATOES

The price has been settled, and all contracting and allocations are done. We are now waiting for planting to commence in approximately mid- to late-September. At a recent seed grower’s general meeting, we took growers to examine the new cutting line trial and feedback was very positive.

Andrew Vandenberg

MAINTENANCE REPORT

All equipment has been running smoothly this year, and we’re gearing up for seed dispatches soon.

The equipment shutdown is scheduled for November, when we’ll start rebuilding and servicing all the equipment. We’re pretty excited to see the new cutting line equipment in the New Year too.

We’re delighted to offer Cherry Hill Coolstores customers our maintenance and metal fabrication services, please call Justin on 0498 780 553 if you require any help.

Justin Johnson

WAYNE’S WORLD

“Our team is currently ahead of schedule, and the seed is certainly better this year than the last. Overall, all seed lines are looking pretty good. We’re getting ready to start dispatching everyone’s seed in the middle of September.”

Wayne Maxwell

A SLICE OF LIFE AT CHERRY HILL

FOYER HISTORICAL WALL NOW COMPLETE

The Cherry Hill Coolstores’ foyer (pictured above) is now complete with a pictorial display showcasing Cherry Hill Coolstores throughout history. You can read about important events and milestones, and see how the business has changed over time.

STAFF ROOM
Pictured left: The staff room is getting put to good use, as an overflow space for staff meetings.

THE LUCK OF THE IRISH

While Conor and family were away on holidays in Ireland, Wayne spent ample time in the office, and vastly improved his Excel spreadsheet capabilities – the rumour is, he’s more advanced than Conor now!

HOLIDAY SNAPS
Pictured above: Conor, Dominy and the kids recently visited family in Ireland.

ADVENTURES OF AMOS – PART ONE
1809 to 1852

THE FIRST LANGMAID IN TASMANIA

Pictured: Amos Langmaid

This article was re-written from original story and research by Marion (Langmaid) Brown.

Amos (Langmead) was the great, great grandfather of Andrew Langmaid. As it turns out he was quite the adventurer with an eye for the ladies, read on to find out about Amos and his early days from England to Tasmania.

Amos (Langmead) was born in 1809. He grew up in the sea-side village of Branscombe in county Devon, England, an area known for quaint villages and impressive limestone cliffs along its coastline. His parents were John and Sarah Langmead who raised eight children, of which Amos was the fifth son.

As Amos grew up, he worked for a farmer Thomas Brown at nearby town of Sidmouth in East Devon. Life was hard, and during a time of unemployment in 1827, Amos was arrested for house breaking. He was sentenced to transportation to Tasmania for the term of his natural life. On the 10th August 1828 he arrived in Hobart to serve his life sentence. The convict roll of that time, lists the trade of Amos as a shoemaker.

Amos had a poor record as a convict. Several times he was reported as being insolent to his master and his many punishments included 50 lashes and periods of months working on the chain gang, making roads for the new colony. An even heavier punishment was handed out for attempting to seduce a young girl from the services of the
local vicar. Records show that Amos married twice while a convict, briefly in 1835 and then again in 1836.

In 1836 Amos (now recorded as Langmaid for the first time) and Harriet Hill were married in Launceston. Harriet, had arrived as a free settler and had the occupation of needlework and dressmaking. Amos was granted a free pardon in 1843. He set up business as a shoemaker in Patterson Street, Launceston. Amos and Harriet had six daughters.

There are several records of Amos travelling to mainland Australia and abroad during the 1840’s. The ‘Devon Malcolm’ ship records show Amos sailed from Launceston to San Fransisco 1849. It is speculated that he was off to make his fortune in Californian gold fields.

By 1851, he had returned from America and in 1852 Amos moved to Melbourne where he married his third wife, Hannah Hall. Hannah was only 21 years of age when she married Amos, making her 20 years younger than Amos’ second wife, Harriet.

TO BE CONTINUED next issue in part two of Amos’s story, where he moves back to Tasmania and discovers limestone.

POTATOEUROPE 2024

Andrew Langmaid, Conor, and Andrew Vandenberg are gearing up to go to POTATOEUROPE 2024 in Villers-Saint-Christophe (Aisne) in Northern France!

This annual European potato expo is the place to be for participants
in the potato sector.

POTATOEUROPE 2024 will be held on 11-12th of September and includes a jammed packed program filled with demonstrations, technical innovations, exhibitors and shopping village, conferences and events.

The boys are particularly excited for the field days in France, and also to see our new cutting line in manufacture and make any final tweaks required before its arrival in January 2025.

Pictured: Wayne is busy packing a suitcase on behalf of Andrew and Conor, for POTATOEUROPE 2024. Won’t they be thrilled!

POTATOES TASMANIA INC.

Potatoes Tasmania Inc. is a grower-led productivity group dedicated to enhancing the productivity, profitability and sustainability of the Tasmania potato industry. The organisation was established to ensure that growers can have their say about what is important
to them and their businesses, address industry challenges and seize opportunities for growth.

Potatoes Tasmania Inc. is committed to supporting profitable and sustainable farming systems, fostering collaboration and providing growers with essential tools and resources for informed decision making, risk,
management and improved productivity.

We extend our sincere thanks to the growers and stakeholders who have supported the establishment of this group and we look forward to working closely with industry.

For more information please contact Bonnie Kenner on 0488 789 012 or Beau Gooch on 0427 961 143.

STAFF PROFILE: JACK SURATMAN

Jack joined the team in 2022, and runs the carrot operation with a team of six. Most days are pretty busy and involve the intake of carrots from farmers, cool storage, grading, washing, logistics, and dispatch to the factory. Long days are worked during peak season so the factory in Quoiba has enough stock to run for 24-hours. This year so far, they’ve washed over 13,000 tonnes of carrots.

Jack grew up in Ulverstone, he spent four-years travelling around NSW, and has been back in Tassie for the past three-years. In his spare time he grows potatoes and raises beef cattle with the help of his partner. They both enjoy watching Stan and Netflix, and also hiking in the wilderness – especially around the Cradle Mountain area.

Pictured: Jack Suratman

TESTIMONIAL… Cherry Hill make it easy

“We’ve worked with Cherry Hill Coolstores from as far back as any of us remember, since my grandfather first initiated the working relationship. I mostly deal with Conor, Wayne and Andrew L and have found them excellent to work with. Wayne is great, he has plenty of knowledge, is kind, and always finds time to look after us. If there’s ever a problem with any detail, they are contactable and always sort it out quickly. In recent times I’ve developed a friendship with the Cherry Hill team and this personal connection also brings me back for their professional service as well – even though we work with other coolstores occasionally, Cherry Hill just makes it all too easy!”

Jarrod House – House Brothers Farms

View more of our testimonials here.

CHERRY HILL COOLSTORES SEED GUARANTEE

Our Seed Management Services. Cherry Hill Coolstores will guarantee our services on Seed Growers seed. If you buy someone else’s certified seed, which is presented to Cherry Hill in good condition, and it breaks down, we will replace our cutting and services at no charge.

This guarantee specifically refers to seed piece breakdown (i.e. rot), and refers to seed which is delivered directly to Cherry Hill Coolstores from the seed paddock for chemical application, coolstoring and cutting. In order for this guarantee to be valid, the Buyer must make claims within 24-hours of the seed leaving Cherry Hill Coolstores and before planting.

In order for this guarantee to be valid, the buyer must make claims with 24 hours of the seed leaving Cherry Hill and before planting.

View more about our guarantee here.

Get in Touch