Rooted in Nature
Our Journey Through Time
Discover the story of Blueberry Country, a place where every season brings new life and flavors. From our humble beginnings as a family-run farm to becoming a beloved community staple, we take pride in our journey. Join us as we celebrate each milestone and the connections we’ve made along the way.
2018 - Sustainable Practices
We introduced new sustainable farming techniques, prioritizing environmental health while producing our berries. This shift confirms our dedication to premium products.
1982 - Our Founding
Blueberry Country started as a small family farm, focused on cultivating the best blueberries. Our love for the land drives everything we do, guiding our journey from day one.
Our QEII Reserve & Protected Wetlands
At our Otautau orchard, a portion of land has been permanently protected under the QEII National Trust. Visitors are welcome to walk through this special area and experience what untouched peatland looks and feels like.
In Ōhaupō, our farm borders the Moanatuatua Peat Scientific Reserve—one of the last remaining raised bog ecosystems of its kind in the Waikato. Around 3 hectares of this reserve is owned and protected by Blueberry Country, ensuring these rare ecosystems continue to be studied and preserved for generations.
2024 - A Year of Growth
This year marks a significant expansion in our offerings, with new farm partnerships enhancing our product range. We’re committed to quality and sustainability, staying true to our values.
2012 - Community Engagement
We began holding farm tours and workshops, sharing our love for farming and healthy living with our local community. Connecting with our neighbors is a cornerstone of our ethos.
Our Soil Story
Where ancient peatlands and wild blueberries meet
Blueberries have always loved wetlands. In fact, they grow wild across the bogs and marshes of North America. When Ruakura researchers introduced commercial blueberry varieties from Canada and the USA in 1951, they suspected those plants might thrive in the Waikato’s vast peatlands.
They were right.
Through the 1970s, blueberries began to be farmed across the region—on land that many farmers once considered “unfarmable.” These peat bogs range from 2 to 10 metres deep and are rich, ancient ecosystems formed over thousands of years.
Peatland: Our Orchard’s Secret Ingredient
The peat beneath our orchards ranges up to 9 metres deep. Below the topsoil, the profile is up to 80% water—essentially a hidden lake beneath your feet. Once a blueberry plant settles in, its roots reach down into this naturally acidic water and take off, growing like the wild plants they originally came from.
The peat itself is ancient—estimated to have formed 10,000 to 14,000 years ago. In Ōhaupō, you can even find a layer of ash about 150mm below the soil surface, believed to have settled from the Taupō eruption around 2,000 years ago. The entire system sits on a base of marine clay, which helps hold the water in place.
A Landscape Shaped by Nature
The peatlands were formed mainly from species like wire rush and sphagnum moss. In Waipū, the peat is over 2 metres deep and still holds preserved kauri stumps—silent reminders of the ancient forests that once stood here. On other orchards, manuka is the next tallest remnant species we see.These wetlands create the ideal environment for blueberries: abundant water, acidic conditions, and deep organic soils. It’s a landscape Blueberries don’t just grow in—they thrive in.
