After returning to New Zealand three years ago, Bert van Geffen and Brigitte van Zaal established Bert's Berry Farm to introduce tray plants to the local strawberry industry. While the Dutch couple has been in many countries over the years, they saw an opportunity in this sunny country. Bert explains that strawberry growers in New Zealand began shifting from open-field cultivation to tunnel production due to issues with fruit rot and labor challenges.
"Growers reached out to me for advice. I quickly identified the main issue: they were using bare root plants. In the Netherlands, tray plants have been the standard for 40 years," he says. "This led to our decision to return to New Zealand and establish a propagation facility for tray plants."
A new option for growers
Tray plants were new to the New Zealand strawberry market. "Growers were accustomed to bare root plants for open-field production. Introducing a higher-cost alternative was challenging," Bert says. Their business launch coincided with a plant shortage caused by a cyclone and poor summer weather, which led growers to transition from bare root plants to plugs despite the higher cost. "Then we introduced tray plants, which were even more expensive. Many growers were already struggling with costs, making adoption difficult. However, growers who trialed our plants now see increased production and are enthusiastic," he says.
Brigitte adds that growers are now warming up to the new option. "We've supplied our plants to different growers, who are achieving higher yields and are spreading the word," she says. "After some steep learning curves we are very grateful for this season. And the orders for 2026 are filling up quickly."
Plant sauna
Another reason for growers' positive response has been Bert's Berry Farm's use of Moleda's plant sauna. Bert explains that with the removal of an insecticide in New Zealand, cyclamen mite outbreaks increased, leading to the destruction of entire greenhouse crops. "The pest was spreading through propagation material, so we knew it was necessary to start with clean plants," Bert says. "We are very proud that we were the first in the Southern Hemisphere to install the plant sauna."
"The sauna eliminates cyclamen mite, powdery mildew, and certain root diseases," he explains. "This allows growers to start with clean plants without requiring immediate chemical treatments, which has been very well received."
Now also available from Bert's Berry Farm 2026 planting: plugs
Tray plants were just the beginning for Bert's Berry Farm. Brigitte notes that growers were asking if they could produce plugs as well. "That's what we have been working on now. Our vision is to become the main supplier of strawberry young plants in New Zealand."
New Zealand growers primarily use everbearing varieties, while Dutch growers rely on short-day types. "Some growers here in New Zealand want to work with short-day varieties, but there is no suitable propagation source. We're working on introducing them here," Bert says.
Bringing Dutch knowledge to New Zealand
The couple believes that Bert's experience across multiple countries and climates helps them to support the growers in New Zealand. "We're not just selling plants but also providing support." Yet sharing knowledge is not something all growers are used to. "In the Netherlands, growers share information, which drives industry progress. That is not the case in New Zealand. Here, knowledge is often kept private due to competition. That's not how we want to work at Bert's Berry Farm. We aim to be transparent, share our experience, and contribute to the industry's progression. At Bert's Berry Farm, we grow more than strawberry plants, we grow success by growing together."
For more information:
Bert's Berry Farm
+64 21 245 9950
[email protected]
https://www.bertsberryfarm.com