What we grow at Burlington Berries
Burlington Berries specialises in producing the highest quality strawberries, raspberries and blackberries. We use advanced protective cropping tunnel systems to create a specialised microclimate. We maximise our fruit quality and yields unaffected by weather and adverse climate conditions.
Raspberries
We grow a Driscoll’s variety of raspberry called ‘Maravilla’. Maravilla is a large, firm berry with a delicious sweet and refreshing taste. Tasmania provides ideal growing conditions for raspberries which require frosts over the winter to set the plant up for a spring/summer crop. With a cool climate and mild summers, Maravilla has two fruiting peaks with a primary flush in December and a secondary flush of fruit in February and March. The fruit is grown on long canes supported by a complex trellis. 50% of our farm is dedicated to growing Maravilla.
Raspberries belong to the genus Rubus, which is a member of the rose family. Most cultivated raspberries today derive from two species: the wild red raspberry (Rubus ideaus) and black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis).
The name ‘raspberry’ is believed to come from raspise, a 15th century sweet rose-colored wine, from the Anglo-Latin vinum raspeys, or from the Germanic raspoie, meaning ‘thicket’.
There are over 200 species of raspberries today, and they can be grown from the Arctic to the equator.
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Raspberries are rich in several bioactive compounds, including anthocyanins, quercetin, vitamin C and ellagitannins, which help in the prevention of several chronic diseases, such as diabetes and obesity.
Raspberries are also rich in fibre, vitamins, and minerals, as well as being low in calories, making them a great fruit to help with weight loss.
These vibrant red berries are not only delicious but also packed with health benefits:
Antioxidant Power: Raspberries are rich in antioxidants, including vitamin C, quercetin, and ellagic acid. These compounds help protect your cells from oxidative damage and may reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
Fiber Content: Just like blackberries, raspberries are high in dietary fiber. A cup of raspberries provides about 8 grams of fiber, which supports digestive health, regulates blood sugar levels, and promotes satiety.
Vitamin K: Raspberries contain vitamin K, essential for blood clotting and bone health. It plays a role in maintaining strong bones and preventing excessive bleeding.
Manganese: Manganese, found in raspberries, supports bone development, immune function, and carbohydrate metabolism.
Phytochemicals: Raspberries contain various phytochemicals that may have anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties.
So, whether you enjoy them fresh, in smoothies, or as a topping for yogurt, raspberries are a delightful addition to your diet!
Our Varieties
Maravilla
Strawberries
We grow a Driscoll's variety called ‘Amesti’, a sweet, full flavoured berry, with a traditional shape, scarlet colouring and impressive shelf life. Burlington’s sun soaked fields, innovative growing methods and annual/biannual plant replacement system are ideal for high quantity production and quality yields. Amesti is an ever-bearer variety providing fresh berries from October through to late May. Commencing 2022 we are growing new premium varieties, Zara and Katrina. These are the latest Driscoll's varieties to be released commercially which will be marketed under the Sweetest Batch label, and are lifting the bar in taste and consumer experience.
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Strawberries are rich in bioactive compounds due to their high amount of vitamin C, folate and phenolic compounds, which provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
In addition, strawberries are rich in fibre, helping to control blood sugar levels, as they increase the feeling of satiety, reducing calories ingested and favouring weight loss. They are also rich in potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure.
Rich in Antioxidants: Strawberries are packed with antioxidants and vitamins. They’re low in calories, containing only about 32 calories per half a cup. These bright red, juicy berries are an excellent source of:
Vitamin C: Essential for immune and skin health.
Manganese: Important for various bodily processes.
Folate (Vitamin B9): Crucial for tissue growth and cell function.
Carbohydrates and Fiber: Fresh strawberries are high in water, so their total carb content is very low (less than 8 grams per 3.5 ounces). Most of their carbs come from simple sugars (glucose, fructose, and sucrose) but also include fiber (2 grams per serving). Their low glycemic index (GI) makes them safe for people with diabetes.
Versatile and Delicious: Strawberries can be enjoyed raw, fresh, or used in jams, jellies, and desserts.
Health Benefits:
Enhance cognitive function
Treat diabetes
Promote heart health
Reduce hypertension
Help prevent allergies and asthma
Improve eyesight
Strengthen the immune system
Aid in cancer prevention
Help prevent birth defects
Assist in treating arthritis and gout
Improve skin quality
Our Varieties
Amesti
Zara
Katrina
Blackberries
Our Driscoll’s variety is called ‘Victoria’ and is renowned for its extra large berry with a sweet taste and juicy texture. Victoria Blackberries are thornless making them enjoyable to pick from December through to June. The key to a good harvest is to have well presented canes, active pollinators, and skilled pickers who are able to select berries at the right time.
Like raspberries, blackberries belong to the genus Rubus, in the rose (Rosaceae) family. The Greeks used blackberry plants for traditional medicine, and the blackberry fruit, leaves, and stems have long been used to dye fabrics and hair.
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Rich in flavonoids, anthocyanins and phenolic acids, bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, blackberries are a powerful ally in the treatment and prevention of diseases such as diabetes, heart attack, atherosclerosis, and high blood pressure.
Very low in calories and rich in fibres, blackberries are known for promoting brain health, enhancing beneficial signalling in your brain.
These little berry gems offer a delightful combination of flavor and health benefits. Let’s explore why blackberries are worth including in your diet:
Rich in Vitamin C: Just one cup of raw blackberries provides half of your daily recommended value of vitamin C. This essential antioxidant nutrient plays a crucial role in collagen formation, wound healing, and reducing free radicals in the body. Some studies even suggest that vitamin C may help prevent cancer by reducing the formation of cancer-causing substances.
High in Fiber: Blackberries are a great source of dietary fiber. With almost 8 grams of fiber per cup, they promote regular bowel movements, manage blood sugar levels, and keep you feeling fuller for longer. A high-fiber diet is essential for digestive health and may reduce the risk of heart disease.
Vitamin K Boost: Vitamin K, found abundantly in blackberries, is essential for blood clotting and bone health. It helps prevent excessive bleeding and supports bone metabolism. If you’re on blood thinners, be mindful of your vitamin K intake.
Manganese Powerhouse: Manganese, often overlooked but vital, contributes to healthy bone development and a strong immune system. It also aids in carbohydrate metabolism and collagen formation.
In summary, these little berries pack a punch: they’re low in calories, high in nutrients, and may even play a role in preventing heart disease and supporting brain health. So go ahead and enjoy some blackberries!
Our Varieties
Victoria
HOW WE GROW OUR BERRIES
GROWING STRAWBERRIES
IN TABLE TOPS
Our everbearer strawberries are grown in long bags suspended in gutters on table top structures, assisting with easy management and harvesting. These grow bags are filled with coir fibre which is the outside husk of the coconut and forms an ideal growing medium. The bags are fertigated with computer controlled individual drippers providing all the nutrients the plant requires. At the end of the season the coir is removed from the bags and it can be recycled as a soil conditioner. Strawberry plants are grown from small runners and may last for two years in their coir bag before being replaced. Flowers appear within two months of planting and mature in four weeks to form berries. These flowers are pollinated and each plant will produce about 40-50 delicious berries during the season.
GROWING RASPBERRIES
AND BLACKBERRIES IN TABLE TOPS
Our raspberries and blackberries are grown in large pots filled with coir, a natural coconut fibre that has superior growing qualities such as aerobic circulation and good moisture retention. All the plants’ nutrition is delivered by fertigation provided through drippers. The plantlet grows into long canes which are supported on a complex trellis system.
HARVESTING
Harvest is a busy time on the farm starting in October with the early strawberries. At Burlington Berries our fruit is picked directly into the punnets held in a field tray. Once picked, the trays are counted and move quickly into the cooling fridges. This reduces the amount of handling and damage to the berries.
Each picker has their own barcode and so there is full traceability from the field to the pack house where further quality checking is carried out. It is essential to maintain quality throughout the harvesting process. Through this method we have full transparency and are able to provide quick feedback to our supervisors and pickers.
Picking frequency depends on the temperature, daylight hours and humidity. In summer crops are picked daily and by late autumn this might be every three to four days.
Once harvested, the berries are ready for processing through the pack house.
PACK HOUSE
Burlington Berries has a modern and innovative on-farm pack house consisting of intake and despatch fridges, processing lines and a quality control section.
Fruit is picked, cooled down to three degrees Celsius, checked for weight and quality and finally lidded before being packed in Driscoll's boxes, ready to go on pallets and be transported to the Driscoll's distribution centre at Devonport. The Spirit of Tasmania ships daily to the mainland for national distribution supply chains. Burlington Berries’ efficient and innovative packhouse systems ensure our berries stay fresh and taste delicious right through the distribution chain to the customer.
TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
Growing Berries is very technical. The plants are carefully managed in a controlled environment from the nursery through to planting in the field. Once established they are managed daily to provide the optimum growing conditions. Computer controlled technology is central to our irrigation and fertigation system. Our technical team includes the irrigation, agronomy, and machinery teams.
The agronomy team use integrated pest management (IPM) and good husbandry practices to reduce the pest and disease incidents without using harmful chemicals.
Our plants are irrigated by state-of-the-art Priva systems which ensure a clean and constant supply of water and fertigation to provide our plants with all the nutrients they need to thrive.
Planning and timing are central to successful berry growing with data collected and analysed daily in all areas of the production including climatic conditions, growth patterns, people management, and analysis of fruit quality prior to despatch.
Dogtooth Technologies from the UK have been working counter-seasonally at Burlington for five years with robotic pickers ‘learning’ how to pick efficiently.
Mechanical application of key micronutrients such as sulphur to reduce powdery mildew disease and air powered leaf removers help keep the canes clean and disease free.
Working for Burlington Berries has added so much value to my work
See why Antonio now calls Cressy home.
Antonio is one of our valued international workers, who supervises one of our many picking teams. Travelling all the way from East Timor to Tasmanian to work For Burlington Berries, Antonio has become an integral part of our summer harvest season and close team.
Working for Burlington Berries has added so much value to my work
See why Antonio now calls Cressy home.
Antonio is one of our valued international workers, who supervises one of our many picking teams. Travelling all the way from East Timor to Tasmanian to work For Burlington Berries, Antonio has become an integral part of our summer harvest season and close team.
Originally from NSW where the Sutherland family has farmed for generations, Kate and Stewart purchased Burlington Farm in 2010 as a location for their premium pasture seed business Upper Murray Seeds. In 2012 they established Burlington Berries and the next generation of Sutherlands now call Tasmania home, working alongside their parents to deliver a ‘Better Berry’ for all Australians to enjoy.
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Everything you need to know about Burlington Berries and how we grow a ‘Better Berry’ for all Australians to enjoy right here in Cressy, Tasmania.
“Working for Burlington Berries has not only given me the opportunity to live and work in Tasmania, but also to become a part of the community here”
Ben Lui
Seasonal Worker