Blueberry Greens

Life is sweet at Blueberry Greens

Life is sweet at Blueberry Greens, where husband and wife team Stuart & Caitlin Williams combine their passions for blueberries and golf – yes, golf – at their pristine 38 acre property just north of Kempsey, nestled in the foothills of Yarrahapinni Mountain within the Macleay Valley Food Bowl precinct.

As newlyweds in 2003, Caitlin and Stuart began the daunting task of transforming their neglected and overgrown property into eight acres of blueberries under nets. The remaining 30 acres consist of a private golf course carved out amongst red gums.

The couple’s efforts tending to the trees all-year round has certainly paid off, with the farm now producing a uniquely sweet, high quality blueberry and that been awarded first prize at the Sydney Royal Easter Show in two consecutive years.

Caitlin attributes the berries’ sweet ‘Blue Sharpe’ flavour to the Macleay Valley’s warm climate, as well as the soil type.

“When ripe, our berries are gently tickled off the bush by hand, then carefully hand sorted,” Caitlin said. “There are no machines used in either process.”

So fresh are the berries when picked, they will last for up to three to four weeks in the fridge and should never go mouldy.

“My hint is to avoid blueberries with absorbent pads in the punnet,” she said.

“When picked and packed correctly, there is no need for them.”

The business sends its berries directly from the farm to greengrocers in a range of regional and metropolitan locations, including several premium retail outlets in Sydney, and are on the shelf within 48 hours of being picked.

“We follow sustainable environmentally friendly farming techniques and try to avoid using chemicals, using natural deterrents where possible,” she said.

All produce is sold within Australia.

“We believe Australians deserve the best,” Caitlin said. “Blueberry Greens is 100% Australian owned, providing Australian jobs and paying our employees Australian award wages.”

Caitlin also value-adds the berries, producing award-winning jams.