At a glance
Quick facts
David Ruan grows diverse spray-free vegetables on a 2.5-hectare plot near Hamilton, selling them at local farmers' markets.
- Type
- Farm
- Where
- Hamilton, Waikato, New Zealand
- What you can find
- Vegetables
- Practices
- spray-free
- How to buy
- Farmers market stall
- Data note
- Location or listing details were last checked 5 Oct 2026.
David Ruan has been growing vegetables for over 10 years under the name Suncakes Gardens, a nod to his Chinese heritage and the Mooncake Festival. He moved to New Zealand from China almost 20 years ago after studying horticulture, where he focused on biological controls for plant protection.
The farm is located just on the outskirts of Hamilton. On a 2.5-hectare plot, Ruan grows a diverse mix of colourful vegetables, rotating crops regularly to maintain soil health. His wife, daughter, and son help with tending the garden, harvesting, and packing produce.
Ruan switched from certified organic growing to spray-free methods last year to reduce costs while following organic principles, such as making his own compost. He sells his fresh produce at farmers’ markets in Cambridge and Hamilton, where many customers have become friends.