Mac Snacks is a heritage macadamia orchard based in Tikorangi, near Waitara in Taranaki, and is widely regarded as a pioneer of New Zealand’s macadamia industry. All products are grown and produced on the family’s BioGro-certified organic orchard, Greenacres, which has been in the family for more than 100 years.
The orchard’s macadamia story began in 1975 when Felix Jury became one of New Zealand’s first experimental macadamia growers, importing a range of varieties from around the world. The first 400 trees were planted in 1978, with a further 800 added sixteen years later, establishing what is now the country’s oldest macadamia orchard.
Greenacres was converted to organic production in stages before achieving full BioGro certification in 1995. Since then, the farm has received multiple environmental awards, including a Ballance Farm Environment Award, recognising its long-standing commitment to ecological stewardship.
The orchard is managed using low-intervention, nature-aligned practices. Sheep graze beneath the macadamia trees to control grass growth and make nut harvesting easier, while native shelter plantings protect both macadamia and avocado trees, enhance biodiversity, and provide additional benefits such as honey production and livestock fodder.
The cool Taranaki nights are a defining feature of the orchard’s terroir and are credited with giving Mac Snacks’ macadamias their distinctively rich, creamy flavour. Nuts are harvested by hand between September and December, then de-husked, dried, cracked, and processed on-farm using custom-built machinery, maintaining full traceability from tree to finished product.
Mac Snacks produces a range of premium organic macadamia products, including Natural & Crispy macadamias, lightly salted Golden Roasted nuts, Lite Roasted options, organic macadamia nut spreads, and organic chocolate macadamia bars. In addition to macadamias, the farm also grows organic avocados and a small range of seasonal fruit and vegetables.
Products are sold directly through the Mac Snacks online store, at the Taranaki Farmers Market each Sunday, and via selected organic retailers, including Down to Earth Organics in New Plymouth. Visitors are welcome to visit the Tikorangi orchard by arrangement, offering a rare opportunity to see New Zealand’s macadamia heritage in action.