BerryWorld Strawberries win top award in New Zealand
The company’s strawberries received gold at the 2025 Outstanding Food Producers Awards, marking a major achievement in fresh produce.
NEW ZEALAND – BerryWorld Strawberries won a gold medal at the 2025 New Zealand Outstanding Food Producers Awards in the Earth, Fresh Produce category.
Meanwhile, BerryWorld Raspberries secured a silver medal. This recognition highlights the quality and consistency of BerryWorld’s berries, which have gained strong support from consumers and industry experts in New Zealand.
The Outstanding Food Producers Awards celebrate excellence in food and drink production across New Zealand. With a history spanning over nine years, the awards have become a respected industry benchmark.
Market Gardeners Limited, trading as the MG Group, holds exclusive rights to BerryWorld varieties in New Zealand.
These varieties were developed in collaboration with leading European breeding programs, where researchers tested over two million options to select the best for taste, shelf life, and yield.
“We are thrilled to receive this gold medal at the Outstanding Food Producers Awards,” said Kerry Wells, MG Group Executive Director NZ Subsidiaries & Associates.
“Our team has worked hard over the last few years to grow the BerryWorld strawberries, now available in New Zealand. The unique flavor, consistency, and longer shelf life make it a standout in the fresh produce market, and this award is a testament to the hard work of everyone involved.”
BerryWorld strawberries are now competing for the Category Champion Award, which will be announced at an event in Auckland on April 10, 2025.
Expansion of berry production in Rwanda
BerryWorld is expanding its reach beyond New Zealand by increasing berry production in Rwanda. The company has partnered with Israeli firm Tropic Cool to establish Rwanda Berries, a project covering 150 hectares over the next five years.
The farm will specialize in high-quality Diamond Jubilee raspberries, Eureka Sunrise blueberries, and Sekoya blueberry varieties.
A joint statement released on February 24, 2025, confirmed that the entire harvest from Rwanda Berries will be exported to the Middle East, Europe, and Central Asia.
Although financial details remain undisclosed, the project is expected to boost Rwanda’s agricultural exports, which have traditionally focused on coffee, tea, and pyrethrum.
“We are delighted to collaborate with BerryWorld to create a brand new agricultural export industry in Rwanda. We believe we have found the perfect country to build a sustainable and competitive industry that will provide closer access to fresh, premium berries,” said Avi Drori, CEO of Tropic Cool.
This marks BerryWorld’s second major investment in Africa, having previously focused on South Africa.
The move aligns with Rwanda’s goals of increasing its presence in global agricultural markets and strengthening its horticulture sector. Commercial berry production has been limited in Rwanda, but this project is expected to change that.
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