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The partnership between Heilala Vanilla and the people of Vava’u started as an aid project when a New Zealand family was helping with with various building projects after a cyclone had caused extensive damage in Vava'u in 2002. This act of kindness resulted in a gift of land from a Tongan chief and then turned into a business that today continues to support local livelihoods and the people of Vava’u are an integral part of the business. Vava’u’s warm tropical climate and generally fertile soil makes it an ideal location for vanilla cultivation and it is Tonga’s vanilla growing centre.
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Meet the Boggiss and Ross family. John Ross, his daughter Jennifer and her husband Garth. They started Heilala Vanilla in 2002 and still own and operate the business today.
Before 2002, John was a retired dairy farmer, Jennifer was an accountant and Garth worked in IT. John and Garth put to practice their horticultural know how to kick start the plantation by researching countries around the world that grew vanilla in the narrow band 20 degrees on each side of the equator. The plan was to help to provide the locals with employment and hope that the demand for vanilla blossomed. It then took three years to develop and nurture the vines through the on-going art of careful training, weeding and looping, all while ensuring organic sustainable farming was being practised.
In 2005 the first 40kg harvests of Vanilla pods were ready. Time passed, the plantation went from strength to strength harvesting a healthy two tonne in 2010.
An annual crop is exported from Tonga to the company’s New Zealand base in Tauranga. Heilala Vanilla is then packaged for each order; the Pure Extract and Vanilla Paste, Syrup and Vanilla Bean sugar are manufactured, and dispatched to Executive Chefs, gourmet food manufacturers and a selection of specialty retail outlets.
Over the years the plantation has matured, but the research and development of more exciting 100% pure vanilla ideas continue. The practice of true sustainability with the local village also continues and has enabled resources for education and infrastructure, which 
Heilala Vanilla is recognised by the local Agriculture Ministry as a true example of a Pacific partnership in practice.
The Heilala Vanilla Foundation was registered as a charity in 2013. The Foundation was established by Heilala Vanilla, to strengthen its already firmly established ties with the island community of Vava’u. Contributions to the foundation fund are made from a percentage of sales of Vanilla beans grown and exported from the island of Vava’u to Heilala Vanilla’s production plant in Tauranga,New Zealand along with contributions from other associated entities.
Each year, the Heilala Vanilla Foundation identifies and carries out projects in areas of education and health on the island of Vava’u offering real life-changing solutions for the people of Vava'u.
John Ross (Heilala Vanilla) & Bruno Toke (Tonga Visitor Bureau) opening the Heilala Vanilla Plantation Vistors centre
