Pukekohe vegetable growers farewelled Alan Wilcox in late July. He was 101. Almost 300 people attended his service, where his son Garth said, "We are very fortunate to have had his wise counsel and resolute support for so long. He believed that it was his duty to support his community in any way he could. He never sought leadership but was always ready to lead when he saw a need."
© Pukekohe Vegetable Growers’ Association
Alan's grandfather, Henry Wilcox, arrived in New Zealand in 1869 and settled at Harrisville. His father, Bob, was one of four sons who became farmers. Alan joined the dairy farm at 16 during the Second World War. He became a member of the Pukekohe Vegetable Growers' Association (PVGA) in 1943, joined its committee in 1948, and was made a life member in 1985.
Alan and his brother Graham expanded into vegetable production during the war to supply troops in the Pacific. Alan married Peg in 1948, and they had two sons, Rob and Garth. By the 1950s, Alan moved from dairying to full-time vegetable production, leasing land in Bombay for early potatoes before purchasing land there. Graham returned to dairying in 1958, while Alan continued in vegetables, with his sons joining in the 1970s. The family eventually cropped more than 160 hectares. Alan was among the first growers in the area to use forklifts and bulk bins for potatoes and onions.
Trading as Wilcox Brothers, Alan also registered the Pinnacle brand, later operated by Garth and Simon until 2007.
Alan held several industry roles. He attended the first conference of the New Zealand Vegetable and Produce Growers' Federation in 1958 and became chairman of its South Auckland association in 1964. He served on the Onion Export Committee, leading three grower tours of Japan. In 1981, he was elected to the Potato Growers Federation executive, becoming vice-chairman in 1982. He also served briefly on the Horticulture Export Authority in 1988 before it was disbanded.
He was a director of Turners & Growers from 1973 to 1985, later growing kiwifruit as a semi-retirement project. The vines were removed in the early 1990s, and the land returned to vegetable production. In the wider community, Alan was a Justice of the Peace for more than 40 years, a member of Rotary and Probus, and remained active in political, sports, and church organisations.
Source: Rural News