With a warm, clear day, the 22nd event that started as a small fair on Seddon Sq attracted more than 14,000 to the small South Canterbury town to celebrate its history of berry growing.
While the number of growers has diminished, those who remain have started a campaign to build on the reputation of the district as a quality producer.
Butler's Berry Farm and Cafe's owner Donald Butler recalls the early days of the industry at Waimate when 50 people would turn up for a growers' meeting. Now, he estimates, there are two major producers and a few smaller growers.
To re-establish the district's reputation for fine berries, the growers have started "Waimate Authentic" to set themselves apart from what they call "strawberry pirates".
"Absolutely nothing else compares" is the slogan they were promoting with a pamphlet urging people at the fair to buy fruit from Waimate, which has been producing berries since the 1880s.
"Year after year, berries from the North Island are trucked down to our farmers' markets and grocery stores. Then they're hawked as Waimate berries. Waimate strawberry growers have had enough."
For the thousands at Saturday's fare there was no question they were there for the strawberries, raspberries and other berries grown in Waimate.
Mr Butler said this year's crop was the best for some years because of the fine, hot weather.
