Berrylands, a popular spot for picking your own berries in Appleby, near Nelson, has closed its gates on this cherished Christmas tradition.
The Conning family, who own Berrylands, announced that all their berries will now be sold exclusively at their stores. However, other farms in the region, like Fairfield Berries near Wai-iti, are stepping in to offer the experience.
Ben Conning, director of Berrylands, explained the decision wasn’t made lightly. They had considered stopping the pick-your-own option for a couple of years but hesitated due to its popularity in the community. High demand at their stores—Connings Food Market and Connings Pop-Up—made the change necessary, as they now need all their berries to keep shelves stocked.
Running pick-your-own berries required extra staff and large parking spaces, which will now be used to grow more crops. Berrylands also plans to adopt machine harvesting and use covers to protect their most delicate berries.
While the Conning family acknowledges the disappointment this may cause, they encourage people to support other farms still offering pick-your-own berries. Fairfield Berries, for instance, has planted raspberries and boysenberries especially for visitors this season.
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