Hawke's Bay school students picking berries for the season

BOUNTIFUL CROP: Robyn Breytenbach, 15, from Hawke's Bay picking boysenberries at Hanna Berry farm near Hastings. Photo / Paul Taylor

Under the cover of darkness, teenagers from local schools have been reaping the rewards of a hot and dry season, picking a bountiful crop of boysenberries day in and day out.

Hanna Berry Farm co-owner Shelley Hanna said they were employing all local kids this season - which started on December 1.

"We haven't gone for the backpackers at all yet, we're just employing local school kids who like the part-time work. Backpackers usually want to work full time so the school kids like the part-time work and many of them are cycling to work."

She said due to the warm spring, with no frosts and plenty of winter rain, it all added up to an early season.

In previous years wind and rain had delayed them from starting on time so the warmer weather was a welcome improvement this year.

The Christmas rush is set to bring in plenty of customers, with no shortage of berries to keep up with demand.

Hanna Berry Farm had employed about 20 students aged between 15 and 17.

"The berries taste delicious and are sweet and juicy because we've had lots of sunshine."

The teenagers had a good work ethic and were fast pickers, Ms Hanna noted.

The farm near Havelock North has grown boysenberries since 1980, supplying Wattie's and ice-cream maker Rush Munro, and started gate sales at the Longlands Rd East orchard 10 years ago.