Strawberries, Riverhead

Boman Zakeri at Good Planet in Riverhead, Auckland is one of our Strawberry suppliers for our Strawberry and Three Berry Jams.

Boman has been supplying strawberries for Anathoth Farm since 2021, but his career began around 18 years ago, at the age of 15.

Back in 2007, Boman was planning to become a doctor. But while picking strawberries as a summer job, inspiration struck. He couldn’t shake the desire to own his own farm, loving the idea of being his own boss and getting involved in every part of his work.

So, he started his search for land but was turned down many times because of his young age. By 2009, a former vegetable-grower-turned-lessor believed in Boman’s dream and took a chance on him, not only leasing land, but also mentoring him and sharing equipment. They’re still in touch today for regular catch ups.

The microclimate of Riverhead, and the wider Kumeū region in Auckland is ideal for growing Strawberries. The warmer climate means that strawberries ripen early enough to start supplying supermarkets and meet the demand of Kiwis looking for the perfect pavlova toppings.

Sitting on the doorstep of Auckland provides easier access to a labour force during peak seasons. Today, Boman’s business, Good Planet, goes from a core team of 10 staff to a team of over 200 during peak season.

Boman says his passion for science, which once had him set on becoming a doctor in his teens, plays a key role in his work today as he experiments with different growing methods and sustainable practices. At Good Planet, they grow strawberries in two ways - traditionally in soil and hydroponically using coconut fibre. Boman's background in science and integrated farming approach aligns with the Anathoth Farm sourcing strategy as we work alongside growers to investigate regenerative farming practices.

Sustainability is important to Good Planet. They have worked to reduce their carbon footprint through using compostable films on punnets and making sure their packaging is recyclable. Boman's philosophy is to 'never say you're done' - there's always a way to improve.

For 12 years now, Good Planet has been supplying strawberries to supermarkets. Sometimes the strawberries aren’t picture-perfect—that’s part of growing real fruit. Supplying the 'not-so-right' strawberries to Anathoth Farm works well for both Boman and Anathoth. Once processed, this real, whole fruit makes delicious Jam on breakfast tables around New Zealand. For Boman, this greatly mitigates Good Planet's waste - and adds an additional revenue stream.

Good Planet produces three varieties of strawberries – Monterey, Camarosa and Ventana, while also trialling other varieties. They’re ready to pick at different times allowing Good Planet to meet demand across the summer. All varieties are delicious and versatile, great for eating fresh or cooking.

Every year brings different challenges to tackle. Boman says he’s had to navigate climate and weather issues, labour shortages, and pests at different times. And some years Good Planet has had to tackle all three. But the resilience of Boman and his team has meant that Good Planet has continued to grow and thrive.