The annual strawberry festival, which usually attracts up to 12,000 people to Seddon Sq in the South Canterbury town, was cancelled this year because of Covid-19. However, several Waimate berry growers joined forces to create A Berry Affair, at Butler’s Fruit Farm on State Highway 1, with the speed limit reduced from 100 kilometres an hour, to 50kmh for safer travel on the busy highway.
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Grace Southby, 16, and Janine Southby, of Hazelnut Estate sell their product. “It was the first time in 30 years that we couldn’t do the usual festival, but this one went really well,” Butler said.
Photo: (Clem Onojeghuo via unsplash.com)
The annual Strawberry Fare usually attracts up to 12,000 people to the South Canterbury town each year.
Instead, four berry farmers have joined forces to host A Berry Affair today at Butlers Fruit Farm on State Highway 1.
Farmer Ronald Butler first started selling strawberries in 1967 and helped establish the Strawberry Fare 30 years ago. My wife Jackie and I thought we should do something about the strawberry industry because every year in the second week of December there are strawberries everywhere, so we wanted to promote them.
The fare was so successful the Waimate District Council took it over and held it in the town ever since.