The strawberry-picking season, which takes place between mid-September and January, has commenced in Stellenbosch. However, some of the usual highlights will not be taking place this year.
The Jamestown Strawberry Festival will not be taking place this year due to the current status of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, both Mooiberge Farm and Polkadraai Strawberry Farm are offering strawberry-picking activities during this picking season, according to Barry and Bevan Zetler from Wynland Boerdery, a farming business that grows the Zetler strawberries. PHOTO: Lara van Zyl
The Jamestown Strawberry Festival will not be held this year due to the current status of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Cheryl Farao, a member of the organising committee of the festival. The festival is usually an end-of-harvest celebration held in Jamestown during the first weekend of November, said Farao.
“The festival was important because it created economic opportunities for families,” said Farao.
Farao told MatieMedia that under normal circumstances, between 2 000 to 4 000 visitors would attend the festival over two days. This created a lot of opportunities for the community in terms of taking part in the festival as a vendor, or celebrating the end of harvest, she added.
Strawberry-picking activities
Meanwhile, both Mooiberge Farm and Polkadraai Strawberry Farm were recently able to open their strawberry-picking activities to the public, according to Barry and Bevan Zetler from Wynland Boerdery, a farming business that grows the Zetler strawberries.
Mooiberge Farm, located on Route 44, is filled with colourful scarecrows that greet its customers as they drive on Route 44. The farms’ strawberry-picking activities are open to the public during the harvest season, according to Barry and Bevan Zetler from Wynland Boerdery, a farming business that grows the Zetler strawberries. PHOTO: Lara van Zyl
People enjoy picking the strawberries themselves, said Bevan. “I think they enjoy the freshness of the strawberries, and they can choose what they want,” he continued.
The Mooiberge Farm, located on Route 44, opened its picking activity on 2 October. The farm has a set entrance fee for adults and children, said Bevan. After picking the strawberries, customers pay per kilogram on top of the picking fee.
Polkadraai Strawberry Farm, located on Stellenbosch Arterial Road near Kuils River, opened its picking activity on 21 September. The price of strawberry picking on the farm varies depending on the size of the bucket the customer chooses to use, said Barry.
“[Polkadraai] has become one of Cape Town’s leading destinations for families. We offer [strawberry] picking, as well as other fun activities for kids,” said Barry.
The strawberry growing season in the Cape region usually commences in March each year, with the first harvest being in June/July, according to Bevan Zetler from Wynland Boerdery, a farming business that grows the Zetler strawberries. The picking season usually takes place between mid-September and January. PHOTO: Lara van Zyl
The farm is an important part of agri-tourism in the Stellenbosch region, according to Barry.
“It’s very good for the local economy,” said Barry. It offers job opportunities during the picking and growing season, and brings people to the Stellenbosch area from all over the Cape region, he added.