Our Orchard
Piopio Berry Orchard is a 13-hectare family-run orchard nestled in the beautiful King Country countryside. Our property includes around 2 hectares of strawberries, 6 hectares of blueberries, 1.5 hectares of raspberries, and 1 hectare of blackberries - plus a few friendly farm animals who call the orchard home. Alongside the berries, you’ll find cows, calves, sheep, rabbits, and many, many birds who share our little slice of paradise. And, of course, our loyal dog Rocky, who keeps a watchful eye on everything that happens here.
When we first purchased the orchard in 1993, it was home to around 4 hectares of established blueberry plants. As soon as we arrived, we knew we wanted to grow more - so we planted our first strawberries straight away. Each year, we added more plants (and expanded the car park too!) to keep up with the growing demand for our berries.
In 2004, we were able to purchase a neighbouring 4 hectare block, which gave us the opportunity to expand even further. That’s when we planted our first raspberries and extended our strawberry patch to meet the needs of our growing customer base. This expansion also allowed us to increase production while still maintaining the same care and attention that define our fruit.
One of the biggest changes in recent years has been the introduction of strawberry tunnel houses. These modern growing structures have transformed the way we produce our fruit - protecting our berries from unpredictable weather, extending our growing season, and ensuring consistently high quality. The tunnels help us create a more controlled environment, allowing the berries to ripen beautifully and taste their best, no matter what the Piopio weather decides to do.
At first glance, Piopio might not seem like the most obvious place to grow berries. But over the years, we’ve learned how to work with the land - adapting our growing methods to suit the unique soil and climate of the area. Through careful trial, observation, and a lot of hard work, we’ve developed growing practices that bring out the best in our berries.
The result? Beautifully sweet, flavourful fruit that truly reflects the place it’s grown.
Our Team
We couldn’t keep our orchard running without our wonderful local team. Behind every punnet of berries is a hardworking group of people who share our passion for quality fruit and genuine country hospitality. Many of our team members return year after year, becoming part of the Piopio Berry Orchard family - helping us plant, pick, pack, and serve with care and pride.
All of our staff are locally employed, and we’re proud to provide seasonal work opportunities for people within our community - from students looking for summer jobs to locals who have been part of the orchard for many years. It’s incredibly rewarding to see familiar faces come back season after season, growing their skills and friendships alongside our berries.
During the peak of the berry season, our orchard really comes to life. We employ over 100 staff, working together to pick berries every single day except Christmas Day. From early morning harvests to restocking the shop, their dedication ensures that fresh, delicious berries are available to our customers every day throughout the season.
We’re incredibly proud of our team - their enthusiasm, skill, and commitment are what make our orchard thrive. Whether they’re out in the fields under the summer sun or serving ice creams in the shop with a smile, every person plays a vital role in creating the warm, welcoming experience that Piopio Berry Orchard is known for.
Growing with care
One of the great advantages of our location here in Piopio is our isolation from other berry orchards. This natural separation helps protect our plants from many common pests and diseases, meaning we experience very low disease pressure. As a result, we’re able to minimise spraying and maintain a cleaner, more natural growing environment for our berries.
In our tunnel houses, we’ve introduced an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) system - a sustainable approach that uses beneficial insects and careful monitoring to keep pest levels in balance. This method allows us to reduce the need for chemical sprays even further, protecting both our plants and the environment while ensuring the fruit stays healthy and delicious.
We take our responsibility to the land, our plants, and our customers seriously. Sprays are used only when absolutely necessary to protect the health of our crops, and always in accordance with the strict standards of NZ GAP (New Zealand Good Agricultural Practice) - an internationally recognised food safety and sustainability programme.
Following NZ GAP guidelines means every part of our growing process is carefully managed and traceable - from how we prepare the soil and care for our plants to how we harvest, handle, and store our fruit. This ensures that our berries are grown safely, responsibly, and with respect for both our environment and our community.
Our goal has always been simple: to grow the healthiest, tastiest berries possible, in a way that future generations can be proud of.
Visiting us
We would love to see you at the Orchard.
We are open daily 9.00am to 6.00pm from Labour Weekend, until April.
Not only is our store packed full of delicious berries, we also sell berry ice creams, coffee, berry smoothies, jam and homemade berry muffins.
With berry ice cream for the kids, coffee for the grown-ups, plenty of parking and grass for the dogs – Piopio Berry Orchard is the perfect place for a pit stop.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Opening Hours
From late October to late April
Every day from 9.00am to 6.00pm
Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Good Friday
Berry Availability
WEATHER DEPENDANT
Strawberries: October to April
Blueberries: December to April
Raspberries: December to April
Blackberries: December to April
Frozen berries are available all year round. Click here or call 07 877 8490 to organise a pick up for your berry fix during the winter.
Orders
After berries for a special occasion or Christmas Day?
Call or email us to place an order
07 877 8490 or shop@piopioberries.co.nz
Please note, delivery is not available, all orders must be picked up from the orchard.