It’s like the berries on top of the pavlova at Hoddys Fruit Co with seven hectares of two other red fruits making their debut at the Hope orchard acclaimed for its apples.
Part of the RD8 Fresh Produce Group, Hoddys was the pick of the crop for the first South Island strawberry and raspberry production for Hoddys sister company, The Fresh Berry Company, with the popular summer fruits destined for mainly South Island supply.
Seven hectares previously occupied by apple trees up to 35 years old have been cleared for the berry operation, with the first strawberry harvest expected in late October and the season running through until late May.
Hoddys also planted its perennial raspberry crop at the end of last week, with fruit expected to be ready for picking in February.
General manager Jos Bell says berries were grown at the orchard many years ago, and their comeback will be a fruitful addition alongside the orchard’s 37 hectares of apple trees “for the foreseeable future”.
“The investment that's gone into the seven hectares of tunnels that we're growing is significant, particularly for the size of business that we are,” he says.
“We like to think we're a smaller player in the horticulture game, but we punch above our weight, and a big part of that is the whole concept of quality without compromise, that is our catchphrase around here, and that's going to continue straight on through to the way we approach berry growing.
“Being North Island based currently, most of Fresh Berry Company’s supply is going to the North Island and some of it comes across the Strait, but that comes with risks, obviously in cost and travel miles.
“By growing in the South Island with a focus on South Island supply, we can send it north if we need to, depending on demand, at different times of the year, but we'll be very much going to the distribution centres in Christchurch, and then across the whole South Island from there, or direct to some of the more local stores.”
Jos says the expansion will also create local employment opportunities, with about 40 locally recruited pickers expected to be needed for the strawberry harvest from late October.
“This is awesome, especially with some of the bad news stories that have been around Nelson in the last couple of years with jobs disappearing.”
