Red, white, and blackcurrants grow especially well in southern New Zealand. Photos by Gillian Vine. : Soft fruits hard to beat

A Scottish-bred raspberry-blackberry cross, the tayberry (above) was introduced in 1979. : Soft fruits hard to beat

Ripening strawberries need protection from birds (above). : Soft fruits hard to beat

Raspberries are members of the rose family : Soft fruits hard to beat

The devastating American mildew has reduced the once-varied selection of gooseberries. : Soft fruits hard to beat

Humans have been gathering blackberries (left) for thousands of years. : Soft fruits hard to beat