Mike Roy’s story is grounded in hard work, bold decisions, and a lifelong love of growing exceptional fruit.

Mike grew up in Whanganui and after studying horticulture at Massey University, Mike spent his early twenties immersed in orchards across the North Island, learning different crops and refining his craft. His seasons were a contrast - summers among fruit trees and winters working the ski fields of Mt Ruapehu. Even then, Mike thrived on challenge and change.

Following travels through Europe, fate intervened at a wedding. Mike’s friend was getting married - and there he met Angela Fahey, the bride’s sister. What began as a chance meeting quickly became something much deeper. Angela was building a promising nursing career in Australia, specialising in neonatal intensive care. But Mike wasn’t ready to let her return across the Tasman so easily.

He made a compelling case for her to complete her studies in New Zealand instead. And in true Kiwi fashion, he proposed over fish and chips. It wasn’t extravagant - it was heartfelt, sincere, and entirely Mike. Angela said yes. 

The couple married in 1987 and purchased their first orchard south of Hamilton. They sold strawberries, fruit and vegetables from the markets, and exported apples - all while welcoming their first three children: Jessie, Jack and Tom. Those early years demanded extraordinary commitment. Angela was still working as a midwife, often doing night shifts at the hospital before heading straight to orchard work the next day. Sleep was scarce, but belief in what they were building never wavered.

When they later purchased the Piopio orchard in 1993 - then a fruit and vegetable shop newly experimenting with blueberries - life became even busier.

For several years they ran both orchards simultaneously. Mike would leave before dawn to work the Hamilton markets and orchard, returning late at night. Angela managed the Piopio shop, cared for three young children, and continued juggling motherhood with long hours. As they often say, they were “two passing ships in the night.”

Eventually, recognising the long-term potential of Piopio, they sold the Hamilton orchard and focused fully on building something special there. Their fourth child, Maggie, arrived in 1995 - growing up alongside the orchard itself.

Mike’s passion has always been in perfecting the fruit. Over decades, he refined growing systems, varieties, and harvest techniques to produce the beautiful berries customers see in the shop today. His standards are uncompromising - flavour, size, and quality come first.

But as Mike himself says: “There is no use having an amazing product if you cannot sell it.” That’s where Angela comes in.

In 2005, together they made one of their boldest decisions - to focus solely on berries. It meant closing for half the year and walking away from the security of year-round trade. It was a significant risk. Mike trusted the product; Angela believed in the business strategy. With careful planning and conviction, they made the leap.

Two years later, they expanded again with Berrycool - real fruit ice creams, smoothies, and coffee - transforming the orchard into an experience, not just a shop.

In 2019, Mike and Angela introduced the first strawberry tunnel house at Piopio Berry Orchard - a major step in modernising production. Since then, they’ve steadily added more tunnel houses each year, allowing the orchard to meet growing demand while extending the berry season, and giving customers fresher fruit for longer.

And now, in a full-circle moment, they have just planted 500 apple trees - returning to Mike’s original love. It’s a quiet nod to where his journey began, woven into everything they’ve built since.

Today, Mike’s journey reflects resilience, innovation, and the courage to back both the land and the partnership beside him. His fruit may be the hero - but it is the shared vision that made Piopio Berry Orchard what it is today.

Now, their greatest joy is seeing the orchard through the eyes of their four grandsons and one granddaughter, who are already growing up with berry-stained fingers and the same love of the land that has shaped their family’s story.