The fruit of your labour
A litchi farm in high summer is usually a hive of activity, says Heidie Smith. “It’s what you would call a picking frenzy!” The fruit is ripe from mid-December, and the entire crop must be harvested within two weeks. This is when Heidie and her husband, Paddy, welcome visitors from far and wide to come pick bucketfuls of this juicy summer fruit at KwaZulu-Natal’s annual Litchi Festival.
The story behind the festival began in 2005 on Heidie and Paddy’s family farm near Salt Rock, which they managed as Cane Cutters Resort, a hospitality and holiday destination.
“There was a beautiful orchard on the farm, with trees that were more than a hundred years old that bore delicious fruit year after year,” Heidie remembers. “Paddy had a dream of starting a festival where people could come and pick their own fruit and take it home – a fun outdoor activity for the whole family.”
The Litchi Festival started small, and Heidie and Paddy enlisted the help of their children and local students. Thanks to Heidie’s marketing on social media, the festival quickly became popular and a beloved annual tradition.
“Unfortunately, the farm was sold and we had to find a new place to host the festival,” says Heidie. This happened right in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the festival moved to Avro Farm outside Ballito. “Somehow we managed that year by wearing masks while picking the fruit before the lockdown was reinstated.”
The community continued to support them through all the challenges they faced. Most visitors return each year to enjoy the sweet fruit, sociable atmosphere and relaxation in the fresh air. Heidie and Paddy also give back to the community and always invite a group from the local children’s home to participate in the fruitpicking. All fruit that remains behind after the festival-goers have finished picking is packaged and sold locally.
This year, the couple will host their 18th Litchi Festival on a new farm, Verbara, near Shakaskraal on the Dolphin Coast, and it promises to be “bigger and better than ever before”. Important note Because the weather plays a significant role, final arrangements will only be announced shortly before the festival, so keep an eye on social media.
Tickets cost R160 per person and include a tractor ride to the orchard and a bucket you can fill with approximately 1.6 kg of litchis to take home. Of course, you can also eat as many litchis as you like while you’re picking. Food stalls and a chill area beside the farm dam will offer plenty of opportunity to relax with friends and family.
Contact lifewithheidie.com/litchipicking litchifestival@gmail.com @litchifestival @litchifestival