Repurpose your Barker’s preserve jars and create your own DIY Bird Feeder. Invite our feathered friends into your back yard with this easy to make bird feeder – out of a Barker’s of Geraldine preserve jar! Now is a great time to put bird feeders around the garden, in winter, food is more scarce – soRead more
Repurpose your Barker’s bottles and create your own DIY Fantail Fairy Light bottle Fun to make and very effective, – it provides perfect low lighting for an outdoor BBQ table, a child’s night light, or simply mood lighting for the favourite room in your house. What you’ll need: 710ml Barker’s fruit syrup glass bottle (label removed)sticky back vinylRead more
Calling home cooks!Barker’s has crafted six versatile meal sauces that help you create exceptional, easy, everyday meals. Bring enjoyment back into dinner prep. Lacking inspiration, time or confidence in the kitchen? Barker’s meal sauces offer gluten free, vegetarian and vegan-friendly meal solutions. There’s something to suit everyone, young and old, with no compromise on flavour. WithRead more
Many of you have asked us about low FODMAP and which Barker’s products may be most suitable for your dietary preferences.FODMAP stands for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols – scientific terms used to classify groups of carbohydrates that are known for triggering an array of digestive symptoms. We encourage everyone to make their own decisions based on their personal needs.Read more
It has been a long hot summer and the 2020 new year kicked off with many events and fundraisers engaging their communities in the outdoors.A local annual event in Timaru called Paddle for Life, as part of the Pink & Steel Cancer Rehabilitation Trust, raises money for cancer rehabilitation with all funds raised assigned toRead more
Oodles of Vegan-Friendly OptionsAlthough we’re not vegan certified, Barker’s of Geraldine are pleased to confirm that a large number of our retail products available in your local supermarket are vegan-friendly. The following products sold in New Zealand contain no animal products.Our vegan recipes can now be found easily online. Look for our VEGAN icon toRead more
We understand this time of confinement puts pressure on all of us. In response to some customer feedback, we want fans to understand we continue to operate making decisions with the health, safety and well-being of our staff, customers and community as our highest priority. As a local food and beverage manufacturer we are continuing productionRead more
Bring out the paint, dyes and glitter…the kids will love this one!With little helpers looking for new craft ideas, decorated eggshells are sure to be a popular choice these school holidays. While you are able to dye and decorate the shells of hard-boiled eggs, these instructions step through the process of emptying the contents of aRead more
Our Immunity Syrups range includes our popular Unsweetened Blackadder Blackcurrant syrupBarker’s Unsweetened Blackadder Blackcurrants contain 99% squeezed, locally grown Blackadder Blackcurrants – a variety of blackcurrant which is high in polyphenols and bred right here in New Zealand by Plant & Food Research.Polyphenols are a type of antioxidant found naturally in fruits and vegetables. TheseRead more
With tomato sauce a staple in Kiwi kitchens, the Barker’s of Geraldine team thought it was time to create a range of better tomato sauce.Better? What makes it better? We wanted to take the time to walk you through why we believe Barker’s is the better tomato sauce…Giving Shoppers a Better ChoiceWe’ve created three flavoursRead more
Guest Blog: David Galbraith & Fiona Dowling The “longest day” – 140km cycle, 33km mountain run, 70km of kayak. 12 – 18 hours, from Kumara Beach on the West Coast to New Brighton Beach on the East.This race takes a massive toll on your body. Think, 2.5km sprint off the beach – 6am, dark, coldRead more
We love your enthusiasm for recycling and repurposing our beautiful glass bottles and jarsLike you, we’re very conscious of this challenge and the role we play in the future of a sustainable New Zealand.The Power of RepurposingOur customers tell us they reuse our glass bottles for:Rustic vases – our 710ml bottles resemble the old-school glassRead more
Do you have glass jars and bottles in your recycling bin you’d like to repurpose? If you are looking for inspiration, check out our gallery.TIP: here’s an easy way to remove sticky labels from glass bottles and jars!If you have a photo to contribute, we’d love to hear from you too. Just email fruit@barkers.co.nz orRead more
There’s something for everyone…These brunch boards are a casual and fun way to share a meal or feed hungry kids after school. Here are our top tips using our favourite products.After School Snack BoardsA fun way to get children involved with making better food choices. After School boards allow kids to choose their own combinationRead more
Many of our customers are fans of our squeezed, Unsweetened Blackadder Blackcurrants and Boysenberries & Blackcurrants Berrylife flavours, and they’ve now been joined by a new addition – Lemon, Honey, Ginger & Turmeric – in our new look Immunity range.You’ll notice that the new labels on all three flavours highlight their immunity benefits. As they’reRead more
With the hope of warming months and summer on the horizon, fundraising and events move outdoors – there were many school fairs and community fun runs. Helensville Primary School Ag Day is the annual fundraiser for the school. On a warm spring day, the Barker’s Citrus Lemonade drinks stand was a refreshing hit. Over 2500Read more
To mark our 50th year of business we have a special opportunity for two Barker’s fans to visit us here in Geraldine.The Barker family name is synonymous with Geraldine after Anthony Barker and his wife Gillian started preserving and bottling local fruits in 1969. From humble beginnings, the desire to be different and to exploreRead more
At a time when consumers are looking for more and more connection with the foods they eat, Michael Barker proudly shares the Barker’s of Geraldine journey, the people, the innovations and the philosophies that still guide them. After 50 years of business there are a lot of stories to be told… a lot of learningsRead more
There is immense pride in calling Geraldine home for the past 50 yearsWhile it’s been a year-long celebration of this special anniversary, last Saturday past and present staff, along with dignitaries and special guests, gathered to pay homage to our roots and look towards an exciting future. On the grounds adjacent to our new FoodstoreRead more
Barker’s of Geraldine is delighted to celebrate 50 years in business. Founded by the entrepreneurial spirit of Anthony and Gillian Barker in 1969, the business started from humble beginnings based on instinct, ingenuity and hard work.The story began when Anthony had a need to diversify away from farming and embarked on a bold new adventure toRead more
It has been a busy winter and start of spring, spreading the love in our communities.Here are some highlights from the many events we have supported this season.The annual James Hargest College Ball Extravaganza was another big success. Organised by the students to raise funds for charities, this year Motor Neurone Disease was the beneficiary.Read more
Entertain with less fuss and more freedom!Hosting a casual family meal? Getting friends around for a night? Picnic planning? We suggest you serve a selection of small plates so everyone can pick’n choose to suit their eating needs and it makes for an easier clean up!Grilled Prosciutto NectarinesWrap quartered fresh nectarines (or peaches) tightly withRead more
We look at three delicious non-traditional ways to use Barker’s dressingsMany of us become frustrated by the last quarter bottle of dressing that gets left in the fridge and clutters the shelves. To celebrate the release of our two new Barker’s of Geraldine dressings and reduce food waste, we invite you to get inspired withRead more
With Summer approaching and longer sunlight hours challenging us to get more out of our days……many of us don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen prepping from scratch, but still want full-flavour eating experiences to share with friends and family.Let Barker’s of Geraldine help you with two new versatile dressings which allow you toRead more
We are so excited to be able to share our news. We’ve been busily working away at the plans for months! A major renovation of a local Geraldine heritage building for boutique accommodation and the building of a new store and eatery to showcase Barker’s products, will soon be underway in Geraldine. There is so muchRead more
We are delighted to have just been named a Finalist in the NZ Food Awards 2019! We’re thrilled that our home-grown Kiwi blackberries, boysenberries, blackcurrants and raspberries have impressed the judges with their vibrant flavour and beautiful colour. Being gluten free, with no added preservative, what isn’t there to love about this iconic New Zealand Wildberry flavour.Read more
As the summer light fades, events and fundraisers continue into the autumn months.We are delighted to have supported a number of charities, community groups, clubs, and schools with product sponsorship this winter. We wish you well with all your engaging and fundraising endeavours.Geraldine High School students delivered Easter Baskets to senior members of the communityRead more
Dessert lovers will be delighted when introduced to our new range. In our 50th year of business, we’ve created an extensive range of dessert sauces showcasing our passion for fruit as well as our love of indulgent flavours. The new range is a refreshing addition to supermarket shelves and kiwi kitchens with table-proud glass bottlesRead more
The new year kicked off with many summer fundraisers and activities – from community sports, to galas and garden parties and meetings, and a baking competition too.A busy summer in your communities! Take a look at some of the highlights below:150 people from around NZ gathered in Mapua for a very successful and enjoyable TreecropsRead more
We are delighted to have been awarded two very special medals in the 2019 Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards!Barker’s of Geraldine Feijoa & Pear Fruit for Cheese – GOLD medal in the Earth categoryLight and fresh NZ Feijoa and NZ pear are the perfect accompaniment to creamy cheeses such as Brie and Camembert.Gluten freeNo artificialRead more
We bring you the best selection of sauces and dressings to dress up your meals this summer 1# Coconut & NZ Lime DressingA versatile dressing/sauce that has a bit of creamy and zesty Malay flavour.Ideal for seafood – great with scallops or fish. Baked or used as a dipping sauce on the side. Also fabulous with chicken.VersatileRead more
Light, fresh meals are on the menu and opportunities for platters and grazing boards are a daily occurrence.To inspire an unique twist to your grazing occasions, top Kiwi platter professionals share their grazing inspiration tips with us. Top 10 Platter Tips#1. Colour“I live by ‘you eat with your eyes’ therefore one of my favourite platter tipsRead more
There’s a reason every season for a gorgeous platter board.Barker’s of Geraldine have a perfect range of condiments, sauces and fruit for cheese to boost your platter repertoire! Be it a casual family meal, an impromptu get-together, a backyard wedding or a special event, here are some popular grazing platter themes:#1. Vegetarian Mezze PlatterA deliciousRead more
With a new year and a new school term approaching, thoughts go to lunchbox ideas and afternoon teas to keep our littlest fans happy and healthy.Children love variety. Parents love healthy choices. Together with inspiration, both can enjoy experimenting with flavours, textures, healthy options and occasional sweet treats. Think protein, something fruity, something crunchy andRead more
Fundraising wheels never stop turning! While wild winter weather drove events indoors there were many quiz evenings, movie nights, conferences and balls. Come spring, schools moved their activities out of doors, and end of year fundraisers benefited charities and local communities.Here are some highlights: James Hargest College – Leo BallThe Leo Club gives senior studentsRead more
Customers often ask us how grapefruit affects medicationGrapefruit (along with some other fruits, such as Seville Orange) can interfere with the metabolism of medicine within our bodies. In most cases, eating grapefruit increases the level of medicine in the blood which can increase the risk of side effects or alter the effect the medicine has.Read more
Homemade nibbles platters just got easier, and more delicious, with the release of our new Fruit for Cheese range.Barker’s Fruit for Cheese is a fresh and flavoursome range of fruit pastes that pair perfectly with cheese and are most at home upon your DIY platter or grazing board. We’ve brought our fruit knowledge A-game and pairing expertiseRead more
Many of our customers tell us that our Barker’s glass bottles and jars are so handy for a multitude of uses Beyond a simple vase or place setting for your dining table or special event, here are some creative usage ideas we couldn’t wait to share with you.Bottling homemade tomato sauce and fruit juices: Barker’sRead more
The first half of 2018 saw a flurry of activity.School PTA set their fundraising goals; clubs and community organisations made the most of the outdoors; and communities got together to fund raise for organisations and causes.There were galas and fairs, quiz/trivia nights, carnivals and festivals, bike rides and fun runs, raffles and auctions, just toRead more
Juicy research pinpoints New Zealand blackcurrant role in diabetes prevention With diabetes being Kiwi’s fastest growing health issue, registered nutritionist Sheena Hendon reports on the finding of juicy new research pinpointing New Zealand blackcurrant’s potential role in the treatment of this serious, yet preventable disease.Do you know of someone close to you – a familyRead more
With 186 entries from 100 food producers, entrants in the 2018 Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards had fierce competition. We are delighted to have two Barker’s products awarded Silver Medals!Barker’s Silver Award WinnersBarker’s Brewed Ginger Beer Judge’s Notes: A quality ginger beer, very refreshing with well-‐balanced flavours. Floral, spicy ginger aromas. Delicious, judges rated this productRead more
New Zealand blackcurrants get the gold medal for sports performance Whether you are an Olympic competitor, take part in community fun runs or play the odd casual tennis match for your local club, the quality of your diet or fuel is essential to enable you to do your best. That is why the latest researchRead more
Barker’s new premium Dry Cola soda syrup contains NZ dark malt Using local NZ malt and NZ citrus in our new cola is something we are very proud of. The NZ malt delivers a rich, deep satisfying flavour while the NZ citrus gives our premium Dry Cola an uplifting and delicious bite offsetting the usual sweetnessRead more
Sparkling water lovers will be fizzing with delight with the launch of our new range of classic soda syrups.The delicious range of premium soda syrups are the perfect pairing for store-bought or homemade sparkling or soda water to create a light and refreshing drink for the whole family to enjoy.These better-for-you mixers have at leastRead more
Barker’s has been on the corner of the original family farm since its beginnings and we continue to respect, foster and grow our business with the land around us.The old home, now office space, still has the distinct vibe of a family home. The ‘sun porch’ is now a meeting room and aptly named inRead more
The last half of 2017 continued with an array of charities, community groups, clubs and schools spending numerous hours of planning to roll out their worthy fundraising events.Every year Barker’s are delighted to be able to assist groups by way of product sponsorship adding flavour and flair to gift baskets, raffle items, drinks stalls andRead more
One of Anthony Barker’s better known inventions was the Kent-Barker Log Fire which transformed the world of indoor heating.Anthony’s heater (an early homemade prototype made from an oil drum) was the world’s first fully enclosed high efficiency wood burner. His patented heater was sold internationally by Kent Heating, a subsidiary of Shell Oil.Inspiration came fromRead more
Anthony Barker’s Winemaking AdventuresAnthony Barker subscribed to the UK publication ‘The Amateur Winemaker’ where elderberries were proclaimed to produce one of the best non-grape red wines. The rich-coloured elderberry was used as long ago as medieval times when ‘black mead’, a potent concoction made from elderberries and honey, was enjoyed by kings and commoners alike.Read more
For most of us, the memory of the food that our mothers served us as children never leaves us, a comforting reminder of the maternal bond that resonates through our adult lives.It is these memories that are the inspiration for My Mother’s Kitchen, a very special New Zealand cook book. Here, a stellar line-up ofRead more
We are delighted, to say the least, to have won at the 2017 NZ Food Awards. Three consecutive years, three award winning recognitions – thank you for all your support New Zealand!Barker’s of Geraldine took out the top spot in the 2017 Non-Alcoholic Beverages Award category, in association with sponsor Villa Maria, with Squeezed LemonsRead more
As the weather warms, cool down with these refreshing, sparkling, ready to drink Fruit Spritzers.Our new, ready to drink fruit spritzers with reduced sugar come in four delicious flavours using real ingredients that are brewed or squeezed to perfection on the farm.Ideal as a non-alcoholic, ready to drink beverage, or as a mixer in yourRead more
If you, or someone close to you suffers from a food allergy, you’ll know how important it is to check food labels.This isn’t as easy as you might expect, especially in the case of chilli. Avoiding chilli in processed foods can be difficult given that many products simply list ‘spices’ on the ingredients list.At Barker’sRead more
We’ve made the finals!The top performers in New Zealand’s food industry have been announced, and Barker’s of Geraldine are delighted to have 3 products revealed among the 2017 NZ Food Award finalists. Celebrity Judge Geoff Scott: “One thing that I love about the New Zealand Food Awards is just the immense variety across all theRead more
We are delighted to launch our new range of fruit compotesWhat is a compote?A compote is simply preserved or cooked fruit. Your mum probably called it stewed fruit, so compote is just a new name for an old favourite. Compote is French for ‘mixture’ and back in medieval Europe it was a dessert of wholeRead more
With diabetes being Kiwi’s fastest growing health issue, nutritionist Sheena Hendon reports on the finding of juicy new research pinpointing New Zealand blackcurrant’s potential role in the treatment of this serious, yet preventable disease.Do you know of someone close to you – a family member or friend who has diabetes or prediabetes? The odds areRead more
For almost 20 years I was his student and colleague as we worked very hard together to nurture and grow the Barker’s business. The part he played as an advisor and marketer and Director were absolutely pivotal to our survival and later success. Michael had unwavering beliefs and he certainly wasn’t a spectator in life,Read more
Let’s drink to a well winter!Did you know…Blackcurrants are packed with a range of healthy compounds, including massive doses of the antioxidant, vitamin C.Blackcurrants have around four times more vitamin C than oranges and 16 times more than blueberries.When consumed as part of a healthy diet, vitamin C contributes to the normal immune system function,Read more
Auckland Star, 15 September 1925The engagement is announced of Miss Constance Mary MacArthur, elder daughter of Captain and Mrs McArthur, Forest Road, Geraldine and formerly of England, to Mr Michael Studholme Barker, eldest son of Mr and Mrs J M Barker, Waihi, Woodbury.When Constance married Michael Barker (senior) in 1926, it’s unlikely she imagined theRead more
Sponsorship activities were in full swing during autumn and into the start of winterWe were delighted to support a massive number of charities, community groups, clubs, and schools with product sponsorship, between April – June 2017. We get such a kick out of sponsoring events that bring our communities together and make them more vibrantRead more
Jess & Sandi are the clever illustrators who created the beautiful fruit images for our new jam and chutney labels We thought you’d enjoy reading more about them and where they get their inspiration.Where did you grow up in New Zealand? JESS: I was born in South Africa and moved to Hawke’s Bay when IRead more
It’s not often that a budding video maker, 16 years old and still at school, is asked to work with a music legend.But that’s what happened to Geraldine local, Max Paterson. Max was contacted by ‘Totally Locally Geraldine’ and offered the role of camera man for Jordan’s Luck music video ‘Geraldine’.The music video was aRead more
Have you ever looked at a list of ingredients and wondered?In food, ‘artificial’ generally means ingredients made to copy ingredients created naturally, rather than using the real thing. Barker’s have a firm belief not to add artificial colours and flavours to our delicious products. Occasionally, when necessary, Barker’s do add NATURAL colours and flavours toRead more
At Barker’s we have a philosophy to use squeezed juices when we can because it delivers the best taste!What are Squeezed Juices?They are juices released from fruit which has been pressed. We have the same type of press that many wineries use. It works at low pressures to gently massage the juice out of fruit.Read more
Annabelle White shares her tips and tricks:Cooks get very excited with the end of summer harvest. In comes the new season apples and pumpkins and yet you still have fresh corn and a medley of Italian summer vegetables like aubergine, courgettes and capsicums.You have such a good supply of so many delights, it just encouragesRead more
Meet Pieter – Redcliffs OrchardPieter Traas is a Yen Ben specialist, the varietal of lemons grown by T&G on 54 hectares in Kerikeri , Northland (three hours north of Auckland). Sort after for their thin skins and high juice content, Yen Ben lemons are a popular choice for drink manufacturers and the perfect hero forRead more
Meet James – Tavendale FarmsRedcurrants may not be commonplace throughout New Zealand yet grower James Tavendale harvests 25 tonne of these delicious berries each year from his 3 hectare planting in Ashburton, Mid Canterbury.Tavendale Farms have been growing redcurrants and blackcurrants for Barker’s for some 35 years and James has been a major part ofRead more
Summer is always a busy time for sponsorship activities, and Summer 2017 was no exception.We believe that it’s vital to give local charities a helping hand and we do this as often as we can. After all, everyone in the local community benefits and that’s the real reward for us.Here’s a list of all theRead more
Annabelle White shares her tips and tricks:The perfect dinner has a luscious finale – a sweet treat providing great energy and yet tantalisingly joyous to savour.Little wonder people feel cheated and ‘upset’ if the meal ends without a pudding. A famous quote suggests “order dessert first, as life is uncertain”!Many diners will admit they ploughRead more
Annabelle White shares her tips and tricks:We know it’s right on so many levels. Packing your lunch means you eat well and saves money, but sometimes it’s hard when racing to pack kid’s lunches, take the dog for a walk and face rush hour traffic. It can all be too much and yet you knowRead more
Every brand that has an authentic story should tell it.We were really excited when we found the right people to help us do that. The team at Ruff & Tumble have created this most fabulous video which tells Michael’s story – our story. Here’s a bit of what happened behind the scenes.While the forecast tauntedRead more
As seen in Your Home & Garden magazine (Feb issue), be in the draw to win something a little fancy with Barker’sNOW CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS TO: Rima Krause, Pauline Mayo, John & Muriel Pedersen, Wendy Anderson, Shelley Gilmour Lazy days, late lunches and long drinks are what summer is all about. We have 5 x refreshingRead more
Ginger Beer is becoming a popular thirst quenching beverage and there are many new options hitting the marketThe average 200ml glass of ginger beer contains a whopping 38.5g of sugar, the equivalent of just over eight teaspoons, according to research.Ginger is one of Barker’s favourite flavours which is why we’ve launched our new Lite BrewedRead more
Looking back through our busy schedule, it wasn’t surprising our sponsorship tally topped 210+Here’s who we’ve been able help share the fundraising journey with throughout Oct-Dec:Age Concern – Central Hawkes BayAoraki Rugby LeagueArts and Plants FestivalBone Marrow TrustBridge to BridgeCanterbury Medical Research FoundationCashmere Primary Twilight FairClearview PrimaryElmgrove SchoolFairhaven School GalaFeilding PlaycentreFour Peak FitnessFSSI Charity GolfRead more
Barker’s of Geraldine has won 2 out of the 13 product categories of the prestigious annual Healthy Food Guide magazine Awards 2016!We’ve been placed top for both best new product and best low sugar/no sugar category with NZ Unsweetened Blackadder Blackcurrant Juice, as well as commended for our newly launched Lite Brewed Ginger Beer.The 13Read more
Research indicates New Zealand Blackcurrants give athletes the performance edge – naturallyWith athletes doing whatever it takes to be the fittest, fastest and strongest and beat the next record, groundbreaking research indicating that New Zealand blackcurrants could be the next big sports performance enhancer can only be exciting news for exercise professionals worldwide.For years, sportspeopleRead more
The humble ice cube has come of age.One ice ‘cube’ making a resurgence is the Ice Sphere (aka Ice Ball) adding flair to summer entertaining.Some people like a splash of water in their whisky, while others like an ice cube or two to chill it (which inevitably melts and dilutes the whisky over time, muchRead more
Dulce de Leche, a traditional South American dessert enjoyed world-wide, is now in New Zealand!Literally translated as ‘sweet from milk’ in English Dulce de Leche is known as milk jam or caramel spread. Gluten free, this traditional and authentic South American topping has now landed on New Zealand shores. History of Dulce de Leche TheRead more
Long days, long lunches and long drinks are just around the corner as summer starts to beckon.To celebrate in style, we’ve created a range of premium handcrafted cordials made from squeezed fruits with botanicals. Each flavour is housed in a bespoke new 500ml bottle – the perfect companion to drinks trolleys, beautiful glassware and summerRead more
Jordan Luck was back in his old home town of Geraldine on Tuesday night to reunite and practice with his schoolmates in their old school band “Basement”.They entertained an enthusiastic crowd in the Heritage Crown Hotel with a mix of songs from the early Basement days, a few well known hits from Jordan’s days withRead more
We’re delighted to have just launched our delicious new New Yorker Mustard Relish.Following the popular, gourmet hot dog trend, we reckon it’s a lively addition to any shopping trolley. Off to a great start, New Yorker Mustard Relish is already a winner after taking out the dry awards category at New Zealand Food Awards 2016!TheRead more
It’s been a busy winter of fundraising with Barker’s spreading the love to more than 60 clubs, groups and charitiesHere’s who we’ve proud to support through product sponsorship during July-Sep 2016:90th South Island National Daffodil ShowAdventure SchoolAlpine EnergyAoraki Migrant Centre and Timaru Newcomers NetworkBAL NZBuckland School Ag DayCanterbury Landrover Owners 50th BirthdayChess National FundraisingChurchill ParkRead more
We are delighted to have been announced the Supreme Winner (Small Manufacturer) at the New Zealand Beverage Awards 2016 at Wairakei Resort this week, for our Unsweetened Blackadder Blackcurrant Juice. This followed our win ‘Best Juice (Small Manufacturer)’ for the Unsweetened Blackadder Blackcurrant Juice too which recognises current consumer interest in no refined sugar productsRead more
Two new crowd-pleasing sauces have been added our range, ready for the summer season. Brewer’s Barbecue Beer Sauce is a rich, bold sauce containing 12% ale giving it a delicious flavour with mild heat – a great addition to any meal. It has a tomato base sweetened by a brown sugar, molasses and raisin combo whichRead more
Meet Harriet Millar, Christchurch artist. After studying art school in England, picking up a post grad in psychology along the way, and becoming a mum of five (in no particular order), she’s thrown herself back into painting.We are glad she did. That’s how we met Harriet!Harriet exhibited at the St Margaret’s School exhibition. A fundraiser forRead more
Blackcurrants can leave a very vibrant, ingrained stain whether from fresh berries or its juice. If not tackled when fresh, these stains can be a nightmare to remove.In one form or another, we’ve tackled blackcurrants stains for decades and have some helpful advice. While our method may not be 100% fool-proof in every instance, itRead more
The weather may have been gloomy but fundraising efforts around New Zealand continued to be conducted with much vigor!We were delight to support, by way of product sponsorship, a number of charities, community groups, clubs and schools to help contribute towards their good work.Here are those we were able to assist in Apr-June 2016:10 –Read more
New Zealand blackcurrant research to support mental performance and brain healthIntroductionWith the growth in an ageing population comes a rising number of brain health conditions. And with over 50,000 Kiwis recorded as living with dementia – two thirds of those with Alzheimer’s, and approximately 1 in 500 New Zealanders with Parkinson’s – more research isRead more
Queen’s Birthday weekend saw us enjoying a stunningly beautiful weekend in the Mackenzie country.We had been invited by Simon & Priscilla Cameron, from Ben Ohau station, to support the inaugural “Hops & Hooves” which was an inaugural craft beer & food show at the Twizel Events Centre on the Saturday night. It was a realRead more
We’ve had great fun experimenting with a range of delicious winter tonics to enjoy this season.Each of our recipes include a blackcurrant fruit syrup (Squeezed NZ Blackcurrant or Lite Blackcurrant work wonderfully) or Lemon, Honey with Ginger along with a host of fresh herbs, spices and a few special ingredients too! We dabble with soothingRead more
Nutritionist Sheena Hendon talks blackcurrants:When it comes to fighting off an attack of the winter baddies such as colds and flus, you can call upon blackcurrants – a Superhero of Superfoods, to come to the rescue. These juicy little fruits really do wear the cape, mask and tights – not only are they packed withRead more
So many groups and so many fundraising activities!It is always delightful to receive photos from the charity and community groups we support through product sponsorship. From cycling to endurance runs, raffles to school camps, pipe bands to pink hikes!January-March 2016A Breast of Life FundraisingAffair of the HeartAll about ButterfliesAltrusa ClubBowel and Liver TrustCraighead Diocesan SchoolCSSIRead more
We have many inquiries from customers wanting to know the secret to removing labels from glass jars and bottlesHere’s what we recommend There are many different paper stocks used for labels (including matt, glossy and textured paper) and you’ll soon discover that some will be harder to remove than others. What is common however isRead more
We welcome two new additions to the Barker’s chutney range!Habanero Tomato RelishFirst off the block: a taste of Mexico and our hottest offering so far, Habanero Tomato Relish is a new addition to our Barker’s chutney range. Slathered on just about anything this is a perfect condiment for heat-lovers. Not only delicious slathered over sandwichesRead more
February 14th marks a special day across the world: candle lit dinners and chocolates are savoured; flowers and gifts are exchanged; romance is in the air – all in the name of St. Valentine. Who was he, or rather, who were they? Over centuries, it’s difficult to separate fact from fiction however several saints namedRead more
The lead up to Christmas was a busy time for Barker’s and fundraising groups around the countryAs we do every quarter, we were delighted to be able to help support a large range of charities and fundraising groups through product sponsorship: from raising money for playground & sports equipment, medical research and supporting the communityRead more
If serving ham on the bone, the odds are you’ll have plenty of ham left over. We look at creative ways to enjoy it for days to come! Ham and Poached Eggs Top slices of grilled or pan-fried ham with an egg and serve on an English muffin or toast, with Barker’s Blackcurrant & RedRead more
It’s that time of the year! If you are hosting or in charge of glazing the ham, here are a few handy tips on how to prepare, cook and glaze your ham.Preparing the HamRinse the ham under cool running water to remove any sticky residue. Pat dry with a paper towel and place on aRead more
Edible flowers have delighted the senses for thousands of years. Not only do edible flowers smell and look great, numerous varieties can be easily grown spray-free in your backyard. We investigate how to grow, how to prepare and how to use.Our creative ancestors were curious, forging the use of flowers for medicinal benefits as wellRead more
Ahhh the joys of a Spring road trip; Golden Bay awaits! We enjoyed a weekend in Golden Bay last weekend and a highlight for me was a visit to the Langford Store at Bainham, which is a 15 minute drive inland from Collingwood. This lonely store in the middle of nowhere brings back memories ofRead more
Another quarter gone and another busy few months for all those charity and fundraising groups looking for sponsorship support. Where possible we’ll lend a helping ‘sponsorship’ hand to charity and fundraising groups. Items may be used as raffle items, spinning wheel prizes, lucky dips, catering and even thank you presents to volunteers that work hardRead more
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