Passion for berries

Simon (right) and Christoph Räss. Photo: Lid

Christoph Räss (24, agricultural engineer) isn’t the face of the company anymore. A year ago Simon Räss (28) returned to the farm after his master’s degree in business administration. But the family hasn’t only accomplished a successful handover of the business but also a strategic change, which started a few years ago. Their father, Hans Räss, operated a dairy farm, with a small vineyard and specialised in the production of potatoes in the mid-90s. He supplied large potato processing companies in Switzerland. “Even then, we were looking for niches to maintain a successful market position,” he states simply.

The mild climate of the region Zürcher Weinland in the north of the canton Zürich has been helpful. Three years ago, Hans Räss started with the cultivation of aronia berries, also known as chokeberries, and with 15 hectares he immediately became one of the largest producers in Switzerland. The demand for the semi-sweet, healthy berry was huge. At that time both sons already helped their father with the changes on the farm. Even though they had to leave the farm for their education, they both knew they’d return in the future. 

“We didn’t push our sons to take over the farm,” says Hans Räss. “Quite the opposite, we advised the boys to study a subject area which would be useful if they didn’t have the farm.” Christopher's girlfriend, who works as a chemist for a spice and herbs manufacturer, gave the brothers the idea to experiment with other wild berries. She emphasised the demand for goji berries, which is in very high demand by the spice and herbs manufacturers.

A trial garden with several wild berry varieties and rare fruit was created and at the same time the brothers started to produce according to the regulations of Bio Suisse, the federation of Swiss organic farmers. Now the farm is in its second year of the transition to organic farming. The three men agree: “It was the right decision.” After his study, Simon intensively researched the cultivation of goji berries with Christoph. He wanted to know more about this special berry, which inspires consumers’ health awareness with the high levels vitamins, antioxidants and phytochemicals. The brothers realised that the consumers bought the berries faster than the European producers could grow them. Until recently the goji berries almost exclusively were imported from China and international media has warned against the high level of pesticide residues. “What the Chinese farmers and a handful of European farmers can achieve, we can do better and, according to the organic guidelines of Bio Suisse.” Big words and a promise, which was fulfilled. Simon travels, alone or with his brother, to numerous producers in Europe. In countless nurseries he searched for healthy planting material and travelled thousands of miles just for high-profile lectures.

Nowadays only a few hectares of the farm are used for potatoes and 25 hectares are used for berries, mainly aronia berries, currants and blueberries. Followed by goji berries, blue-berries, honeysuckle and gooseberry as well as the common sea-buckthorn, kiwi, persimmons, pawpaws and many other rare varieties. In two or three years another 5 hectares will be added. “The investments are significant,” states Simon Räss. Per hectare amounts of between 20,000 and 200,000 USD have to be paid, that includes irrigation and covers. The successful potato farm of their father is a great help in the transition process. “We aim for a niche market and have to position ourselves in that competitive market,” state Simon and Christoph. Even with the 200 kilograms of blueberries they already deliver per day, wholesalers would buy a multitude of berries from them. In future they will focus on the production of berries with good prospects, mainly Aronia and Goji, which have the reputation as the healthiest berries in the world.

The brothers took over the farm with a lot of confidence and they believe that they can massively increase the value of their farm. "We are convinced that in the future three families can live off the farm," states Simon Räss. They already employ a Polish couple and two agricultural apprentices, together with several family members. Together with Hans Räss the two apprentices take care of the remaining crops, the vineyard and the 200 pigs. During the harvest season temporary employees and refugees are hired. They always eat together, that is why the family is changing a former stable into a canteen. “We will continue with our tradition of all the employees eating together,” states Christoph Räss who is responsible for machinery, maintenance and personnel. He also sells produce on the weekly market and they will open a farm shop in the future. 

Which conclusions can the two young entrepreneurs draw from their past experience? "Belief in success should be greater than the fear of failure," states Simon, and Christopher nods in agreement.

For more information: