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A Pukekohe vegetable grower and community leader has been recognised for his work within the country’s potato industry.
Harsad (Harry) Bhula was presented with a Potatoes New Zealand Life Member Award at last month’s Potato Industry Awards 2025 in Christchurch.
Industry representatives praised Harry’s mentorship of fellow growers and his commitment to maintaining the highest standards in New Zealand potato production. His approach has earned him widespread respect throughout the sector.
Harry, who recently retired from active farming alongside his brother Sam, through their company B. Das & Sons, began his journey in agriculture following in the footsteps of his father, Bhula Das, a pioneering Indian immigrant who established the family’s farming legacy in Pukekohe from the 1950s. Harry grew up working the land before and after school.
Potatoes New Zealand chief executive Kate Truffit said the award represented not just Harry’s own journey, but the culmination of a family tradition that began when his father arrived from India in 1950 “with nothing but determination and a vision.”
“Harry and his brother Sam have always put quality first. We would also like to acknowledge Harry’s wife, Roshni and Sam’s wife, Sita, for their steadfast contribution to the horticulture business over the years.”
The Das family operation, established as B. Das & Sons in 1994 when Harry and Sam purchased the business from their father for $1, grew to become one of the region’s most respected vegetable growing operations.
At its peak, the company employed 40 staff and cropped around 250 hectares across the Franklin district, focusing on potatoes alongside onions, pumpkins, cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, spinach, and silverbeet across a dozen different varieties.
The operation’s commitment to quality meant much of their produce was sold unseen, based purely on the family’s reputation.
Beyond farming excellence, Harry has been a pillar of the community, serving as president of the Pukekohe Indian Association and receiving a community service award for his dedication to the Indian community.
The family has consistently given back, donating funds and produce to organisations including St John, IHC, Westpac Rescue Helicopter, Pukekohe Indian Sports Club, food banks, temples, local schools, and the recreation centre.
