Berry Sweet
A simple
philosophy
Protective tunnels and tabletop systems
Tunnels help keep our strawberry plants warm and dry, significantly reducing the need for fungicides by preventing moisture buildup, even in winter. Growing under tunnels allows us greater control over temperature, creating optimal growing conditions that extend our season and enable us to produce the sweetest, highest-quality fruit year-round. The table top systems we have in place for our strawberries allow for great efficiency in picking, thereby producing quality yields.
Integrated pest management systems
Berry Sweet is dedicated to producing strawberries with minimal chemical inputs, using advanced integrated pest management (IPM) to protect the environment and preserve beneficial insects within the natural ecosystem. By closely monitoring our crops, we manage pests through natural methods and targeted controls, reducing our reliance on chemical treatments. This approach allows nature to play a vital role in pest control. Additionally, our farm is home to hundreds of thousands of bees that pollinate the crops. Bees are sensitive to harsh insecticides, so we use chemical treatments only as a last resort, allowing natural predators to manage pests about 95% of the time.
The goal of IPM is to maximise the use of biological controls, with chemicals only used as a secondary measure when absolutely necessary. This strategy involves selective, targeted applications based on systematic pest monitoring, rather than routine treatments, to minimize environmental impact.
The advantages of IPM are numerous, including reduced pesticide resistance, lower health risks for operators, less chemical contamination of food and soil, and an overall move toward sustainable agriculture. Healthier plants lead to better crop quality and yield, allowing us to produce high-quality, marketable strawberries through smarter, eco-conscious pest management.
Hydroponic Advantages
Growing hydroponically means that, rather than being planted in ground soil, our strawberries grow in bags filled with coconut fibre.
This approach offers numerous advantages: it’s not only about increasing the yield per plant but also about using water and fertilizers more efficiently through precise application. Additionally, since fertilizers aren’t applied directly to the soil, there’s less environmental impact, and the system allows for future technologies to be integrated for recycling both water and fertilizers that would otherwise go to waste. This sustainable method helps us conserve resources while producing high-quality fruit.
Family owned and run
for over 25 years
The Yewers family are highly progressive and passionate about delivering the tastiest berries money can buy to the consumer that is safe to eat and free of pesticides. Over 20 years ago, Berry Sweet Farmers were the first Strawberry growers in WA to run an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program and have been deploying the latest advancements in sustainable farming practices to minimise chemical use ever since.
