'A wild berry farm and village cafe for sale.'
'a family opportunity,'" says Jane.
"The farm was one of several rehabilitation farms established after World War I. Previously, the land had been used to grow forage crops, mostly alfalfa. When we bought the land there was nothing on it, not even a barn. The locals told us we were crazy and raspberries would never grow, but we were determined to prove them otherwise.
"The initial work consisted of installing irrigation systems, planting protective plantings, leveling the land, and then gradual planting. From the beginning, the plots were planned for mechanized harvesting, so there were wide gaps between the rows. We planted an American variety of raspberry, a dessert type that gives''sweet and tasty berries, with a focus on flavor rather than volume, and then a few years later began growing strawberries. Production peaked in the late 1980s and early 1990s when the Watties were taking the bulk of our crop. However, in the 1990s, imports of cheap fruit from China, Serbia and Chile convinced us that it was better to scale down production and focus solely on selling fresh fruit to the high end of the market. "
The farm now grows about four hectares of raspberries and about two hectares of strawberries. "Otahuna Berries fruit is only available through the store. As the number of local growers is slowly dwindling, our raspberries and strawberries are in high demand.
Opening the café in 2001 has added value to the business.
"We needed more control over our fruit, we wanted to present it more directly to the public. We decided to open a café, never imagining it would take on a life of its own. We bought an old cottage, about 50 years old, with Arts and Crafts style architectural features, and moved it about 15 kilometers away from the berry farm. Craig and a couple of builders took out the walls and restored the cottage, and we opened the cafe with great apprehension, not knowing if people would come.
"At first we focused on coffee and mince pies, but because we're away from the city, people want to sit''and eat. You have to listen to your customers, so we changed the concept a bit, and it's worked well. We now pride ourselves on good, homemade, tasty and hearty food in a picturesque setting, offering a comfortable, relaxed and appreciative dining space. Our cakes are a particular highlight, they attract many regular customers and become a talking point. We focus on seasonal produce, cook all our food on site and our customers include locals, regulars, families, cyclists and walkers amongst others," says Jane.
Having raised three children, who are now adults, in a community that has changed a lot since the business was established, the Scotts decided it was time to pass it on to others. Ron Ferguson of''PGG Wrightson Real Estate, Lincoln, is offering Otahuna Berries and Raspberry Café for sale. He says it's a unique and thriving local business.
"What the Scotts have built from the ground up is an impressive business with two strong but complementary components, and the potential for the new owner to grow it further. Their loyal customers and the combination of berries and café offer a variety of revenue streams. In addition to their customers, their employees have also remained loyal to the Scotts for many years, making this a stable and promising business.
"Thirty years ago Tai Tapu was a more rural area, and although the area still retains its charm, the local community has grown and diversified considerably, moving away from agriculture, which provides''to the new owner the potential for further business development,' he says.
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