Behind the tunnels: how Mitchpine poles help protect a Horowhenua strawberry crop

Behind the tunnels: how Mitchpine poles help protect a Horowhenua strawberry crop

When it comes to growing the country's fresh produce, the fencing products behind the scenes play their own small part in getting it there. Lewis Farms, a farm producing dairy, strawberries and asparagus in Horowhenua — has turned to Mitchpine for quality products for more than 50 years

Windbreaks Built to Last

Lewis Farms needed to protect their advanced berry-growing tunnels, so Mitchpine supplied 8-metre poles for the job, engineered to stand up to the demands of exposed paddocks and Horowhenua weather.

The windbreaks were built by Stan Karatea of Karatea Fencelines, whose craftsmanship paired with Mitchpine's poles has produced a structure designed to protect the farm's investment in hydroponic strawberry growing for years to come.

"You need poles you can trust when you're protecting an investment like this," says Cam Lewis of Lewis Farms. "Mitchpine has never let us down — the quality's always there, and it's good to know it's coming from just up the road."

Innovation Under the Tunnels

Lewis Farms grows its strawberries hydroponically in poly-tunnels, using a table-top method that lifts the crop off the ground entirely. It's a system that captures all runoff and protects the soil beneath, while extending the picking season from September right through to June. Berries are harvested daily, so fruit reaches the market at peak ripeness and flavour.

It's a demanding operation, and one where the surrounding infrastructure — including sturdy, weatherproof windbreaks — plays a quiet but essential role in protecting the crop and keeping the tunnels performing as they should.

"Farming here means working with the elements, not against them," Cam says. "Having a windbreak we know will hold up gives us one less thing to worry about."

The Value of Local Supply

For Mitchpine, the Lewis Farms partnership is a reminder of why local supply chains matter. Shorter distances mean faster turnarounds, stronger relationships, and a better understanding of what local growers actually need on the ground.

As Lewis Farms continues to innovate with sustainable growing methods, Mitchpine remains committed to supplying the quality products that helps make that innovation possible, and built to last!