Nature's best

We grow and deliver premium field-fresh strawberries

Naturally bee-pollinated

Open field planted, fresh quality strawberries, golden kiwifruit, avocados, and macadamias

Respecting Nature

We are committed to sustainable, nature-base farming

Thriving Working Farm

We create job opportunities within the community

Welcome to Wilderness Fruit

Get To Know Us

Wilderness Fruit is a working farm near the coastal town of Wilderness, just outside George in the Western Cape, South Africa. Only 5 km from the sea, our mild coastal climate and rich soils are ideal for growing premium strawberries, golden kiwifruit, avocados and macadamias.

We combine nature-based crop management with modern farming practices to grow and deliver consistent, high-quality fruit and nuts for local customers and export markets around the world. Our attention to detail and sustainable production within a biodiverse ecosystem ensure a safe, premium product year-round.

We are committed to sustainable, nature-based farming, producing quality fruit and nuts, and creating job opportunities.

Fresh Fruit And Nuts From the Garden Route

What We Grow

Strawberries

We produce strawberries year-round, planting varieties such as Monterey, Fronteras, Victor, and Royal Royce, carefully matched to our soils, temperatures, and seasons.

Season: Short-day strawberries from July to January, day-neutral strawberries from August to the end of March.

Markets: Fresh strawberries are sold locally and exported to the Middle East, the UK, and Africa.

Our dew-fresh strawberries are carefully picked, cooled, and packed to deliver great taste, texture, and shelf life.

Golden Kiwifruit

We produce golden kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) with a distinct flavour, vibrant colour, and smooth texture. Our golden kiwifruit is naturally sweet and known for its high vitamin C content.

Season: harvested from mid- to late March.

Markets: The majority of our golden kiwifruit is exported to the Middle East and Europe.

Pollination is essential for golden kiwifruit production, and our ecological farming relies on bees, other insects and hand pollination. We plant roughly one male vine for every six female vines to ensure good pollen availability, and when weather limits bee activity, we support natural pollination with carefully timed hand pollination.

Avocados

We focus mainly on the popular Hass avocado.

Season: harvested from about mid-September to December
Markets: supplied to larger local retailers and selected export markets

Each batch is tested and ripened to ensure consistent internal quality before packing and distribution.

Macadamias

We grow a diverse range of macadamia cultivars, including A4, 816, N2 (Nelmac 2) and Beaumont /695, to spread the picking season and to optimise yields.

Season: harvested mainly in winter (July–August)
Markets: mostly sold locally, with a smaller portion exported

Our orchards are bee- and insect-pollinated, and the range of cultivars allows for effective cross-pollination and strong nut set.

Sustainable farming at Wilderness Fruit

We Respect Nature

At Wilderness Fruit, we respect nature and follow a biological, ecosystem-based approach to farming.

We work to minimise synthetic herbicides, use natural fertilisers to build soil health, and apply integrated pest management (IPM) to control pests. By working in harmony with the farm’s natural ecosystem, we produce high-quality fruit and nuts sustainably.

Nature-based crop management

Our production is grounded in nature-based crop management and regenerative farming practices:

Soil & water care: We use mulch, ground covers, and wood chips around trees to protect soil and build organic matter.

Pollination: We rely on bee hives and natural insect pollinators across all our crops to support strong fruit set.

Biodiversity: We collaborate with local nature conservation bodies to control invasive alien plants and protect indigenous vegetation.

Some of our conservation methods

Drip Irrigation

We make use of drip irrigation, a very efficient water-saving irrigation system that precisely supplies just the right amount to the roots of strawberries.

Plastic Mulch Cover

A plastic mulch cover helps to regulate soil temperature, minimises evaporation to keep soil moist, and helps with weed suppression.

Dam water-storage

The water stored in our dam provides a home to a variety of animals and plants – a value-add to nature.

Grass

To reduce erosion and control weeds, we plant grass in the furrows between the rows.

Safe, Certified and People focused

Health and Safety First

Wilderness Fruit complies with leading international and local farm-assurance standards for fruit and nuts.

We are GLOBALG.A.P. and SIZA certified, with annual audits conducted by accredited independent third parties. These certifications confirm that we:

Follow good agricultural practices (GAP)
Maintain full product traceability
Use and record herbicides and fertilisers responsibly
Meet strict food hygiene and quality specifications
Protect the environment, water and soil
Safeguard employee health, safety, and welfare

This ensures our strawberries, kiwifruit, avocados, and macadamias are safe, responsibly produced, and traceable from field to final customer.

Jobs, training & learnerships

We Contribute

Wilderness Fruit is a thriving farm and an important local employer in the Hoekwil–Wilderness community.

We create seasonal jobs for harvesting, packing, and on-farm operations.

We offer internships to agricultural students from Nelson Mandela University, George Campus.

We recently launched an 8-month learnership for hands-on training. Some learners are absorbed into our team; others leave with practical skills that make them more employable at other farms.

Our goal is to grow people and skills, not just crops.