From facing fearsome fast bowlers on the international pitch to cultivating one of the world’s most delicate and demanding fruits, former Zimbabwe cricket captain Alistair Campbell has embarked on a surprising and ambitious second career.
The man who scored close to 8,000 runs in 60 Tests and 180 One Day Internationals is now one of the country’s biggest blueberry farmers, determined to make Zimbabwe Africa’s blueberry capital.
Campbell, 53, is the co-founder and managing director of Lauetta Farm, a high-tech 50-hectare (123-acre) operation located just outside Harare.
The farm is at the forefront of Zimbabwe’s agricultural push to capitalise on the soaring global demand for the “superfood.”
A New Chapter in a Varied Career
Campbell’s transition to farming follows a varied post-cricket career. After retiring from international cricket—a career that spanned 11 years—he initially managed Lilfordia Junior School in Harare alongside his father, Iain.
He later took on key administrative roles within Zimbabwe Cricket, guiding the team’s return to Test cricket in 2011 and serving as the organisation’s managing director.
Campbell is also responsible for nurturing some of the country’s top cricket talents.
Now, his focus is mainly on the demanding blue fruit. The scale and technology of the farm are impressive.
Co-owning the operation, Campbell oversees 240,000 blueberry plants, each grown in an imported pot from the Netherlands or South Africa using imported soil. The high-maintenance crop is watered with specially treated water up to eight times a day and immediately refrigerated after harvest to maintain peak freshness.
“It is a demanding fruit to grow,” Campbell said an interview with BBC, “but the rewards are certainly worth it.”
He points to the increasing global appetite for blueberries, citing their high levels of vitamins and antioxidants.
Eyeing the Global Market
Lauetta Farm currently exports its high-quality blueberries to markets in Europe, the Middle East, and South East Asia. However, report the real game-changer is the massive new market on the horizon: China.
According to BBC, Zimbabwe has recently signed a tariff-free export protocol with China, one of the largest blueberry consumers in the world. Once the southern African nation passes China’s stringent compliance tests on pest and disease control, farmers like Campbell will gain access to a monumental new consumer base.
This potential boost is a major driver for the country’s collective mission to position itself as Africa’s top blueberry producer.
Campbell is confident that Zimbabwe has a competitive edge. The fruit comes into season early, starting in late March, allowing Zimbabwean farmers to hit the market ahead of major global competitors such as Peru.
By marrying world-class agricultural technology with a strategic early harvest, Campbell is determined to put Zimbabwe firmly on the map—this time, not for its cricketing prowess, but for its blueberry harvest.
