13/10/2026
Meet Kowie, our general manager🌿
Kowie grew up on a w**e grape farm near Rawsonville in South Africa’s Boland region, where he helped his dad on the farm and developed a passion for growing things. After studying, he spent ten years working primarily with apples and pears before moving to New Zealand with his wife, Sanelle, and their family. Canada was also on the cards, but New Zealand’s rugby culture helped make the decision!
After four years growing blueberries in Southland, Kowie joined ViBERi in South Canterbury. The warmer climate was a bonus, but he was particularly drawn to the opportunity to learn about blackcurrants, their mechanised growing and harvesting processes, and to broaden his experience alongside Tony Howey.
Since joining ViBERi, Kowie has gained a deeper appreciation for everything that goes into turning blackcurrants from the orchard into finished products. Being part of a team growing a crop he believes in has made his journey with ViBERi a rewarding one.
