Stefan BRADLEY
FRESH fruit, family fun and the agricultural economy have returned with Maffra’s Berry Dairy reopening for the new season.
The agrotourism business has introduced a new dairy farm tractor tour and animal feeding experience in response to demand.
The Berry Dairy is a place to pick the freshest spray-free strawberries, straight from the ground, but also a family-friendly place these school holidays to have a meal, coffee or real fruit ice cream. Families can also enjoy a visit to the petting zone, the playground and see the various strawberry-related products.
Strawberry picking is not ready yet – but it’s close!
Farmers Nicole and Brendan Saunders, of BNS AG, started the Berry Dairy in November 2023.
“I feel really happy with how the strawberry fields are looking, how everything’s looking every year,” Ms Saunders told the Gippsland Farmer.
“I’m offering an experience that I’m really proud of.”
Ms Saunders said with Berry Dairy, they aim to focus on one or two things every season, and following feedback, has improved the strawberry picking experience by changing field layouts, and developed the dairy farm tractor tour. It’s a natural extension of the Berry Dairy experience and part of their diversification strategy.
The tour goes for around 50 minutes and you go past the calves and the irrigators. You can learn how the farm utilises the water from the Glenmaggie Dam as a key part of their operations, and see the cows actually being milked.
“Hopefully we can educate people on where everything’s coming from – where the strawberries come from and where our food comes from,” she said.
“I was really nervous, because as a working dairy farm, it’s never going to be picture perfect. But I think people want that authenticity and that experience. Lots of people haven’t even been on a trailer before with a hay bale.”
The Berry Dairy has grown faster than they ever expected, attracting attention from locals and tourists alike.
“Locals absolutely love having something like this in the area and I love what I’m creating for the community,” Ms Saunders said.
Just like most other farmers, the business is dealing with inflation and higher input costs, but that community support, their staff, and passion is helping them get through it.
During peak season they’ll have about 17 staff across their dairy farm and Berry Dairy operations, including backpackers, students and locals.
