Berry Farm Structures: 2,500 Screw Piles for Agricultural Growing Systems

In summer 2024, Paalupiste pulled off a special export job in Massachusetts, USA: installing 2,500 helical piles to support an automated berry-picking setup at Nourse Farms, one of the country’s leading berry growers.

The system comes from Dutch company GEGE and completely changes how berries are harvested. Instead of bending over rows of plants, pickers sit comfortably in carts that roll above the crops. The berries grow in elevated boxes held up by the steel structure, which keeps them off the ground and cuts down on diseases from soil contact.

Paalupiste handled the full foundation package: Finnish-made helical piles were produced back home, loaded into containers along with the installation tools, and shipped across the Atlantic. Once on site, the team rented local excavators to get the job done.

A five-person crew from Finland flew over and finished the entire installation in just three weeks. One big advantage here was how clean the process stayed: no digging, no mess, and the farm stayed tidy and operational throughout. The piles are also fully frost-resistant, so the structure will hold up fine through harsh New England winters.