Trevor and Kerry Braun (left) and Strawberries Galore (at Loxton’s 2013 Mardi Gras, in East Terrace) are celebrating 20 and 40-year anniversaries this month.

This locally based food-van enterprise was conceived in a dream by Joan Sharam, from Victor Harbour. Joan was involved in horse-riding tournaments and saw opportunity for a food business such as Strawberries Galore. She drew a plan on the garage floor. The trailer/van would have a cool room, freezer, hot water, and serving counter. The small, family-owned company that followed from 1984, 40 years ago, was to become an iconic SA business. Joan later married Ron Schadow, who had operated the Peebinga General Store, and the business grew.  Kerry (Ron’s daughter) and husband, Trevor Braun, joined Strawberries Galore in 2004, 20 years ago.  As much as possible they source local ingredients: strawberries from Mount Barker, SA, (and during winter, from WA); chocolate from Melba’s Chocolate Factory, Woodside; milk from Fleurieu Milk, and ice-cream from Golden North, Laura. Now with four vans, the Brauns travel Australia widely including to Emerald, Qld, the Bathurst 500, NSW, and in SA, places such as Parilla and Mount Gambier, and to events such as the Royal Adelaide Show, and locally, the Loxton Show and Mardi Gras. A Strawberries Galore franchise covers Victoria. Until recently Kerry’s sister, Sue, operated a van at the Victor Harbor causeway.

PHOTOS: Kerry Braun/Lynn Schmaal