13 Dec 2019

Growing Fruit Keeps a Family Strong

From Country Life, 9:28 pm on 13 December 2019

In the mid-1980s Philip McLennan planted the first and only blueberry farm on the West Coast at Ikamatua. He was always trying something new so planted tayberries as well.

The tayberry originated in Scotland and is a cross between a raspberry and a blackberry. Late last year Philip was tragically killed in a car accident but his family want to keep his legacy and dream alive.

The berry farm is now managed by Philip's sister Carolyn Straker. It's been a huge learning curve for Carolyn who has has no horticultural experience, but her goal is to give the berry farm a real shot at success and make her brother proud.