Spray-free strawberries, watermelon and other locally grown produce will be available from Labour Weekend as a Whakatāne grower launches a new mobile produce trailer.

Seasonal Favourites is the latest venture from grower Isaac Tait, who has turned his passion for gardening into a homegrown produce business on his lifestyle property on Golf Links Road.

It has become a family project for Tait and his wife Britney, with the pair doing much of the work together while balancing the venture around their family life.

“It’s something that everyone gets involved with.”

Tait said upgrading from the back of his truck to a trailer also meant their children could safely be part of the business.

He said the idea grew from his long-standing passion for growing vegetables, which began when he was a teenager.

“I’ve always had a vege garden,” he said.

After growing watermelons last year, Tait decided to expand his growing operation.

The watermelons proved popular, particularly because they were grown without sprays and guaranteed picked when ripe.

Tait said watermelons could not be grown from seed in the same place twice, prompting him to think about how he could make use of his land.

This summer, Tait is growing strawberries, watermelons, potatoes and carrots on a larger scale, alongside rock melons, oranges, pumpkins, squash, broccoli, tomatoes and lettuce.

He is also selling a wide range of seedlings, grown from leftover seeds in his greenhouse.

Tait hopes to introduce pre-orders for vegetables, allowing customers to order fresh produce and arrange a time to collect it.

The trailer has also been designed to make fresh fruit easy to eat on the go.

Watermelons will be available whole, half or sliced for ready-to-eat pieces.

“I’m serving stuff that I believe people will like, and it’s ready to go. I’m hoping people will come down for a lunch break,” he said.

He built much of the plant coverings using repurposed materials, including second-hand bird netting, plastic sheeting offcuts that would otherwise have been dumped, and old decking used for the timber frames.

Growing the produce without sprays has required considerably more work, including manual weeding and protecting crops from birds and rodents.

The strawberry plants are a Moxie hybrid variety. They were planted in May and are grown under protective netting, fed with seaweed solution and a potassium-based strawberry fertiliser.

“Just trying to do something healthy, sustainable, and to support local,” he said.

“Whakatāne has got so much to offer … this caravan can prove that this can all be grown here.”

He said he’d had positive feedback so far and was most looking forward to seeing the community’s reaction when the trailer launches.

The trailer will travel to different locations, with its stops announced through the Seasonal Favourites Facebook page.

Customers will be able to pay by cash or EFTPOS.