Right on the border between Namibia and Angola, on the banks of one of Namibia's only three perennial rivers, Mashare Berries planted 20 hectares of Fall Creek blueberry varieties in November last year.

Just a little over six months later, in early July this year, it began to harvest its first crop, part of which is already available in the UK, Hong Kong, Spain and soon Angola.

The harvest is expected to continue until October.

All the berries Namibians (basically a contribution from Mashare Berries) have about a four-week lead over the South African season.

The first harvest is estimated to be close to 150 tons and by the third year they will be very busy, says Henriëtte le Grange, sales and marketing specialist at Mashare Berries and Mashare Irrigation.

Berries Namibians - Exceptional Flavor and Size
Le Grange notes its satisfaction with the Fall Creek varieties planted so far, which have performed well in the hot, dry climate of East Kavango, with a few frosty nights in their brief winter. The berries they are watered directly from the Okavango River.

“When people find out that we are growing blueberries in South West Africa, they are amazed,” he says, and Namibia's first blueberry project has been attracting a lot of attention.

The first blueberries of this season were sold in Namibia, but the market is easily saturated.

"Before the harvest began, the Namibian market absorbed around 100 kilos of berries weekly. In comparison, we have a client who has already had more than 6 tons on his own. The Namibian market is quite underdeveloped, people do not like berries imported. First, they are claimed to be tasteless and small.”

They use Family Tree Farms and DKI Fruit to export to the UK, Europe, the Middle East and the Far East. In their third year, their volumes will begin to allow them to expand markets, possibly including South Africa.

The better pollination, the larger the berries
“80 percent of success depends on bee pollination: the better the pollination, the higher the Berry. Last year, in February, we started organizing hives and beekeepers, and in addition to the honey bee hives we have, there are an incredible number of wild bees.”

Within 15 minutes from harvest, the harvest is cooled to 1 ºC, packed and loaded at the same temperature in refrigerated trucks on the farm (on the banks of the Okavango River, which borders Angola, as seen in the Map).

All the berries arrive in two days in Johannesburg by truck
Due to the shortage of flights at Windhoek airport, as a result of COVID-19, the fruit is transported by truck to OR Tambo airport in Johannesburg to be shipped by plane to the United Kingdom, Spain and Hong Kong.

The longer term strategy is to ship the fruit from Windhoek International Airport or ship it from the port of Walvis Bay.

Cross-border transit between Namibia and South Africa this season has gone smoothly, according to Le Grange.

The province of East Kavango has a large population, so Mashare Berries has not had to search for migrant labor in high season and all workers return home each night. Employment, especially of women, is expected to double with the growth in volumes, from the current one hundred.

Henriëtte talks about the community garden they are developing for the food security of the local community.

Mashare Berries employs workers already living in the vicinity, not migrant labor.

“We have many plans for the future, adding another 40 hectares of blueberries and also introducing avocados. We are very excited about what lies ahead."