How One Message Helped Protect a Blueberry Farm After Western Cape Floods
Strathbreede Berries, situated near Wolseley in the Western Cape, was established in 2019 when agricultural investment firm Primocane Capital began converting an existing pear and plum farm into a high-level blueberry operation.
Since then, the project has followed a strong growth trajectory, delivering more than 1 200 tons of blueberries to the market annually and expanding through the planting of new hectares. This changed in May 2026, when a flood of historic scale hit the Breede Valley and surrounding areas.
The flood severely affected the entire operation. The extensive damage included losses of more than 50 kilometres of irrigation equipment and over 1.2 million irrigation pegs. Production is done in pots and growing medium under structures, all of which were heavily damaged or swept away. “For weeks after the floodwaters receded, we were still picking up pots and plants from neighbouring farms several kilometres downstream,” says Pierre Lombard, Farm Manager at Strathbreede Berries. “Large sections of the farm were submerged, access routes to the farm were cut off, electricity to the area was off for several days and people were trapped before rescue teams could reach them. The team had to jump into action to start the recovery journey and protect the jobs and livelihoods of everyone involved.”
This was the scene on many farms in this region during May 2026. “Strathbreede Berries was far from the only farm affected. Across the Western Cape, the same flood disrupted farm after farm. These are farms that consumers may not even know about. Few people outside the agricultural industry ever see what it takes to get something as simple as a punnet of blueberries, a box of apples or a tray of nectarines onto a shelf. Every product has years of investment behind it and now, in many cases, recovery included a fight simply to keep it there,” says Andre Lotz, CEO at Strathbreede Berries. “Our thoughts remain with every other farmer, farmworker and family across the Western Cape who are still working through their own recovery. Strathbreede’s story is only one of many still to be told and a reminder of how much effort, in good years and bad, goes into getting food onto tables.”
“After seeing the damage the flood caused, the biggest question on our minds was whether we would still be farming and if the project would survive,” recalls Lombard.
Ironically, the flood created an irrigation crisis. “While we were recovering from the damage of too much water, the plants were drying out,” he explains.
Blueberries grown in substrate and pots depend on frequent, carefully managed irrigation and fertigation cycles. Unlike crops grown in soil, the root zone has limited buffering capacity. This makes prolonged interruptions in water and nutrient supply a near-death sentence for the plants.
Without the ability to irrigate, the team knew that a substantial number of plants would be lost. The question was no longer whether there would be losses, but how quickly and effectively these losses could be limited. At that point, the impact threatened to reach well beyond the current season into the future of the project and the livelihoods of the many people connected to it.
Elias Erasmus, Farm Supervisor at Strathbreede Berries, describes the emotional impact of returning to the farm after the flood. "When I arrived, I was very sad to see the damage. We planted these plants carefully and suddenly so much was gone. We immediately started bringing teams together to save as many plants as possible."
This was the scene on many farms in this region during May 2026. “Strathbreede Berries was far from the only farm affected. Across the Western Cape, the same flood disrupted farm after farm. These are farms that consumers may not even know about. Few people outside the agricultural industry ever see what it takes to get something as simple as a punnet of blueberries, a box of apples or a tray of nectarines onto a shelf. Every product has years of investment behind it and now, in many cases, recovery included a fight simply to keep it there,” says Andre Lotz, CEO at Strathbreede Berries. “Our thoughts remain with every other farmer, farmworker and family across the Western Cape who are still working through their own recovery. Strathbreede’s story is only one of many still to be told and a reminder of how much effort, in good years and bad, goes into getting food onto tables.”
“After seeing the damage the flood caused, the biggest question on our minds was whether we would still be farming and if the project would survive,” recalls Lombard.
Ironically, the flood created an irrigation crisis. “While we were recovering from the damage of too much water, the plants were drying out,” he explains.
Blueberries grown in substrate and pots depend on frequent, carefully managed irrigation and fertigation cycles. Unlike crops grown in soil, the root zone has limited buffering capacity. This makes prolonged interruptions in water and nutrient supply a near-death sentence for the plants.
Without the ability to irrigate, the team knew that a substantial number of plants would be lost. The question was no longer whether there would be losses, but how quickly and effectively these losses could be limited. At that point, the impact threatened to reach well beyond the current season into the future of the project and the livelihoods of the many people connected to it.
Elias Erasmus, Farm Supervisor at Strathbreede Berries, describes the emotional impact of returning to the farm after the flood. "When I arrived, I was very sad to see the damage. We planted these plants carefully and suddenly so much was gone. We immediately started bringing teams together to save as many plants as possible."
Starting Recovery
“After assessing the risk, we were forced to place an order to replace the irrigation equipment for a large portion of the farm,” says Lotz. The feedback was that the required stock was not immediately available and could not be delivered on the timeline necessary to save production. The lead time was up to six months, due to factors outside of everybody’s control.
“More than 300 permanent employees and more than 1 300 seasonal employees depend on this project, which meant I could not accept that answer. I could not simply wait, knowing the challenges and risks that lay ahead,” said Lotz.
Irrigation is the heart of this, and any, farming operation. At Strathbreede Berries, all irrigation equipment, from software to hardware, is Netafim equipment. “Netafim’s products have a reputation that is synonymous with quality. The company offers the best solutions for precision irrigation, especially in blueberry production. We had decided during project planning to use only Netafim equipment, and the entire system was designed around that decision,” explains Lombard. “We have a strong relationship with Netafim and have always received wonderful support from them. The Netafim Technical Advisor in the area, Andre du Toit, often supports us with finding solutions to challenges and ensuring optimal operation of all Netafim’s equipment.”
Knowing that the Netafim equipment they needed was not immediately in stock as it was an out-of-season and unexpected order, the team considered alternatives. They considered installing different products or attempting to continue operating with compromised flood-damaged equipment. Neither option was ideal for optimal recovery and long-term sustainability. They did not want to compromise on quality, and the irrigation system had been designed around specific components, making major design changes difficult under the circumstances. Reusing damaged equipment also carried significant risk, as there was no guarantee of long-term performance or reliability.
Taking Action
Given the urgency of the situation, the team needed a solution and a realistic timeline to make informed decisions about the future of the project. Faced with these challenges, Lotz decided to contact the global Netafim President and CEO directly through LinkedIn.
"It was not about going over people's heads and I knew this was an approach that may be frowned upon," he says. "It was about thinking outside the box to create a solution where there was none and preventing a devastating knock-on effect.”
“In my message I emphasised that the impact of the flooding extended far beyond infrastructure and plants. I explained that the urgency was because so many people depend on this farm. I shared with him that saving this project was about saving livelihoods. The farm is an important source of employment in the surrounding community. If there are no plants and no harvest, the impact will be felt not only this year, but in the years that follow," said Lotz.
“We knew that we had to fight for a solution and our survival. Many employees were simultaneously dealing with their own losses caused by the flood. People had lost their homes or possessions and then had to face the possibility of losing their jobs as well. We had to do everything we can to prevent that.”
Then, Lotz received a response to his LinkedIn message. After the Netafim leader became aware of the potential impact on the farm, its employees and the wider community, he agreed to facilitate a solution.
A Better Timeline
Actions were taken within Netafim to prioritise manufacturing and supply of the required irrigation products, despite the impact on planned activities. The most important result for the farm was receiving clarity on timelines and being able to plan actions accordingly. The necessary equipment was supplied on a timeline shorter than a month, rather than the initial timeline of several months or longer. This meant that the team could make the necessary decisions and continue doing what they can to keep the plants alive until the irrigation system was returned to full function.
Lotz says that he was overwhelmed by the fact that the CEO of a global company responded to his plea. "In the bigger scheme of things, this project may seem insignificant, and one might wonder why our farm should be singled out given the wide impact of the flood," he says. "But the impact on this community is not insignificant and the fact that we grow in pots and substrate added urgency to our appeal.”
Until the replacement products arrived, the team on the farm focused on temporary measures to keep water reaching the surviving plants while the new equipment was in transit. The placement of emitters and scheduling was adapted to ensure sufficient delivery of water to each plant.
The objective, explains Lombard, was to gradually restore moisture levels, flush accumulated salts from affected pots and resume fertigation as soon as conditions allowed. “Managing irrigation remains challenging because many growing media profiles have already dried out. When substrate becomes excessively dry, channelling can occur, where water follows limited pathways through the medium rather than wetting the entire root zone evenly. This makes irrigation recovery more complex and increases the need for careful management.”
Teams were brought in for the massive recovery effort, and seasonal employees who would normally be involved in harvesting activities have been helping to sort through damaged irrigation equipment and prepare the site for the new equipment as it arrived. Despite many of them being busy with their own recovery from the flood, these teams jumped into action.
Xander Dawson, Head of Irrigation at Strathbreede, who was involved in the recovery effort, says the work was demanding. "Many pots were washed away completely, and a lot of material was damaged or blocked. We cleaned equipment to see whether we can still get water to the plants. It is hard work, but it is important work."
Lotz adds that the recovery process was not based on a single decision or a single day’s work. “Our recovery comes from the farm management team and all workers choosing to show up, morning after morning, and keep going under conditions that would be reasonable to walk away from. This daily persistence, more than any single intervention, is what is truly rebuilding Strathbreede Berries.”
While the immediate priority is restoring production, the flood has also highlighted the importance of future resilience. Lotz explains that, as damaged sections are rebuilt, factors such as flood lines, infrastructure placement, health and safety considerations, and long-term sustainability will need to be evaluated.
The financial cost to the farm has been extensive, according to Lotz. However, the focus remains on preventing further losses and protecting the future of the project. The team estimates that it may take several months to restore systems to a strong operational level, with a longer recovery period likely before production returns fully to its previous levels. “However, our situation was greatly improved by the fact that a supplier broke the mould to get us what we needed when we needed it,” concludes Lotz. "Ultimately, this story is not only about saving a crop, but about protecting jobs, supporting a community, creating hope and ensuring that hundreds of families can continue to build a future. Continuing to farm means continuing to create jobs and produce food.”
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