SWEET SPICE Vanilla from Tonga
Today Heilala Vanilla is a successful vanilla brand exporting to Australia, USA, UK and Europe. They’ve won multiple awards, but CEO Jennifer Boggiss says she’s most proud of the Navigator Award won in March 2021 from the New Zealand Tonga Business Council, in recognition of an individual or business which has had economic and social impacts benefitting multiple communities.
Heilala’s close relationships with Tongan vanilla growers contributed to the award. Immediately after Cyclone Waka, Jennifer’s father, John Ross, travelled with Papakura Rotarians to assist with the rebuild. Seeing the devastated crops, John thought a vanilla-growing partnership could financially sustain Tongan communities.
Why vanilla?
He settled on Madagascar Bourbon vanilla () because it had been established in Tonga during the 70s under American guidance. The Americans had managed their partnership from afar and after several years’
