JOHN & WENDY EVANS
RJ Flowers Ltd, Twyford, Hawke's Bay
"We feel really privileged to do something we love every day, on land that’s been in our family for generations."
John worked in the family orchard from the time he could reach the fruit and reliably pick it. Today, John, his wife Wendy and their family own and run two orchards covering 80 hectares, including land that’s been in the family since 1906.
“We feel a real sense of heritage and continuity, working alongside family is really important. You’ve got to work at it, but there’s nothing better.”
KARLA BRADLEY
Kono Horticulture Ltd, Tasman
"We want to make our orchards places where everything thrives – the land, the trees, the environment – and our people."
At 16, Karla Bradley left school and moved out of home. Her first job, in an orchard, was all about earning money to pay the bills. Necessity may have been the driver then, but today, Karla is the General Manager of Kono Horticulture, and her goals are on a whole different level.
ROBBIE McCORMICK
Mr Apple, Hawke's Bay
“The science and technology we have in this industry is mind-blowing. It helps us consistently grow quality fruit – and every year we’re pushing to do it even better.”
Robbie McCormick is a bundle of energy – and he needs every ounce of it as Orchard Technical Manager at Mr Apple in Hawke’s Bay. If it grows, moves or breathes, he’s a part of it.
“I pinch myself every day that I get to soak up the sunshine, learn new skills and produce something in front of my eyes that helps feed the world. Whether you’re starting out or in a senior position, it’s a top industry to be part of.”
STEPHEN & SALLY DARLING
Growing up on an orchard in Central Otago, Stephen Darling said he would never become an orchardist. “It was too much hard work,” he says.
Yet the industry drew him in . . . and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Here I am, thoroughly enjoying fruit growing. I find it rewarding to see a crop go full cycle, from winter through to spring bud burst and summer harvest, as well as that full cycle from first planting and growth through to maturing for production and harvest, and the end result of fruit for selling.”
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I love the mental stimulation of my job. I’ve always wanted to be a scientist and studied Applied Science at EIT a few years ago.
I also love the fact that the work we do here on the orchard is helping feed people in other countries. As I’m originally from the UK, maybe my father or siblings might be eating our apples!
I’ve set myself a goal of becoming an Orchard Manager and I’m working hard to achieve that.”
“I started in a temporary job thinning, pruning and redeveloping one of Mr. Apple’s orchards. I’m now an orchard foreman with increased responsibilities, including taking care of people and overseeing an RSE team.
I like teaching people new things, new skills and in this role I get to meet people and experience new cultures. I like seeing the results of the work they do and that’s pretty cool.
There’s a lot of knowledge needed to grow quality apples – we're all learning more every day.”
Since first signing up with Kono for a thinning season I quickly realised I had an interest in how the trees work. I’ve now completed my Level 3 Horticulture Certificate and am on my way to Level 4.
I am now a Pipfruit and Kiwifruit manager. I enjoy working for Kono
as it aligns with my values and enables me to grow. I enjoy working in horticulture as I see many opportunities and an exciting future in
this industry”.
“I started at Compass Fruit Ltd in 1999 after leaving school. I joined as a stacker in the packing shed and quickly progressed up the ranks to Fork Truck Driver and Tower Supervisor. From there I moved to a role as a Cool-store Supervisor, then with frozen foods, and returned to the apple industry in a new role with Compass Fruit (Heartland Group) as Coolstore Manager.
I love the varied nature of my role. One day I might be inducting a contractor, the next day I could be assisting engineers with repairs, and plant monitoring. There are so many different things, it’s never the same day. People are a great part about my job, all the people! The friendships I made along the way, and continue to make with packhouse teams, cool-store staff, to the seasonal RSEs and growers.
“I’m a pipfruit, summerfruit and more recently truffle marketer from the sunny Hawkes Bay. I work for Fern Ridge Fresh in the role of Export Sales and Logistics. It is a diverse role, including post-harvest administration and management, grower liaison, packing coordination and planning, and shipping and export sales. I’m also involved in our family orcharding business where we grow plums, apples, and currently planting the exciting new Piqa™Boo™ pear variety. I grew up in Hawke’s Bay, working on the family orchard during the school holidays, then went to Lincoln University to earn a degree in Supply Chain Management and Global Business.
After University I returned to the Bay and began working for Fern Ridge Fresh, where I help with the management of the KORU® apple variety and Piqa™Boo™ pear.”
“Being a young wāhine Māori with a keen interest in science, I only ever saw a career pathway in health, until the end of my high school year where I was introduced to horticulture. Six months later I was at Massey University studying a Bachelor in Agri-Science majoring in Horticulture.
I recently started a Masters of Social Science with Plant and Food Research in Hawke’s Bay, looking to link the horticulture industry and my whanau / hapu / iwi groups. I have big goals to one day manage my own production site and create a space for my whanau that incorporates Māori tikanga, but until then I want to learn as much as I can about our horticultural sector.”