Business Central February 2021

| 57 HORTICULTURE Berryfresh Focus on bramble crops a winner Boysenberries, blackberries and raspberries are grown on Berryfresh’s 14ha site at Te Rahu Rd. FRESH & DELICIOUS RASPBERRIES, BOYSENBERRIES & BLACKBERRIES • Fresh Picking Daily • Berryfruit Juices • Real Fruit Ice Cream • Order now for Christmas 1972 Te Rahu, Te Awamutu. Ph 871 5805 FLAYS BERRY GARDENS WE’RE PROUD TO SUPPORT INNOVATIVE LOCAL BUSINESSES WAVE25862 ACCOUNTING TAX CONSULTANCY Like Berryfresh We’re here to help businesses like Berryfresh who need to get their numbers working as hard as they do. Not your typical accountants, we’re as at home on the orchard or farm as we are in the o ce. And truly understand what makes your business tick. Call us for assistance or advice on your business finance or administration needs. Call the GW team today to see how we can help you. 195 Mahoe Street, Te Awamutu P: 07 872 0585 | www.gwca.nz Chartered Accountants M urray Flay runs the Berryfresh berry fruit orchard in, Te Awamutu. The site was initially owned by his father Gaidyn who purchased the property in 1970 as an addition to his dairy farm. Through-out the 1970’s it grew maize and when Gaidyn felt there must be a way to get a better return off the land, he decided to estab- lish a boysenberry and strawberry garden. Track forward to today and Murray only grows bramble crops; boysenberry, blackberry and raspberry on 14 hectares of the original block. There’s a strong ebb and flow to the yearly cycle and a consequent need to hire addi- tional staff through the concentrated picking and processing periods which extends from November through to March. Harvesting of early blackberry and raspber- ry starts by the end of November. Boysenber- ries are picked in a concentrated three week period from mid-December while raspberry and blackberry have a longer picking season. “With different varieties we’re harvesting fresh fruit through to late March.” At the peak of picking Murray needs a team of upward of 80 staff and he’s really proud of the fact that he finds these people locally, often students working their way through university and the like. It’s intensive work to get the fruit off the plants in peak condition which are sold fresh to local supermarkets and green-grocers while a portion frozen for sales throughout the year. “There’s been a steady growth in demand for brambles given the health benefits that come from eating them,” Murray says. “There’s been a steady growth in demand for brambles given the health benefits that come from eating them.” Sue Russell Work continues after picking when pruning activity is carried out by part-time staff who are employed for nine months. Brambles grow on new canes that form over the previ- ous summer so new canes are tied up every year. “We also constantly inspecting the plants to ensure they are healthy and disease and pest free.” Murray says where he is located provides for ideal growing conditions, with cool weath- er in the winter for the fruit to set. “One of the draw-backs is we can often have wet summers and too much rain and humidity can make life difficult.” These days he doesn’t export, as the costs are prohibitive and the demand locally is able to bring in sufficient income to operate well. On site is also a small retail shop and there is an opportunity for people to pick their own from December 1st. Frozen fruit is available all year round and real fruit ice-cream is very popular. Murray says he enjoys the very much ‘hands-on’ aspect to running a successful berry farm. “I like the cycle of activity and there is al- ways something to do.” He also enjoys the fact that his casual peak-activity workers often return to the farm for several years in a row. “I like the fact that I have helped young peo- ple to gain their own qualifications through university and polytechnic and I know they enjoy coming back to work here year in, year out during their studies.” With the impact that Covid-19 has had, Mur- ray says it is especially gratifying to be able to help local people and the local community in this way.