2016 event last for Strawberry Fare founder

Jackie and Donald Butler display their Christmas-coloured produce — green gooseberries, which are also growing on the bushes behind them, and some of the season’s first ripe strawberries. Photo / Sally Brooker.

This year's Waimate Strawberry Fare is the last one for the woman who founded it 32 years ago.

Jackie Butler, the co-owner of Butler's Berry Farm, is retiring from the event after the 2016 version is held on Saturday.

Mrs Butler and her husband, Donald, have been the major supplier of fruit for the event from the outset. Mrs Butler was chairwoman of the Waimate Art Group that had been seeking a location for an outdoor exhibition. She suggested a Strawberry Fare at the berry farm, on State Highway 1 at Hook, which would also celebrate the centenary of strawberries being planted in the district.

The fare was held at the Butlers' roadside fruit stall for the first few years, then moved into Waimate's Seddon Square in 1989. Stalls were set up under the trees.

It has since spread to fill both the square and neighbouring Boland Park, attracting nearly 300 stalls and thousands of visitors.

Getting the fruit ready in time for the Strawberry Fare is a big mission at the berry farm. Mrs Butler said they were fortunate not to be affected by hail that ripped across parts of the region last month.

"It was brilliant."

The lack of sunshine during the wet spring has caused some concern - sunshine was needed to develop the strawberries' sweetness and colour. However, they were ripening nicely this month when picking got under way, and were proving juicy.

The Butlers always plant a mix of strawberry cultivars.

"It helps even things up," Mr Butler said.

They were always trialling new varieties that became available, to see how they performed in the Waimate soils. One that was being trialled this year was firmer and therefore better able to withstand the high rainfall.

Mr Butler said this season would be good for raspberries - it was likely to be better for them than for strawberries.

Mrs Butler said she liked the fact that the fruits available for New Zealand's midsummer Christmas were in keeping with the traditional colours. While the strawberries and raspberries took care of the red end of the spectrum, gooseberries added a light, fresh green.