Consider a career in hort

It took some persuasion for me to enter this great event, having keenly watched our Hawke’s Bay regionals over the years, and observed the skill and talent of the contestants. Finally, I was nudged into entering the regional event this year by my boss and workmates at T&G Global in Hastings.

One of the best things about competing in the Young Grower of the Year is that it pushes you out of your comfort zone. All the modules are challenging, and you don’t know what’s going to be thrown at you so you’re drawing on your skills, experience and knowledge. It was a privilege and extremely enjoyable to be part of the event, competing against a fantastic group of talented people.

The fact is I am passionate about New Zealand’s horticulture industry. Having grown up in and around the family orchards, operated by my father and uncles, following in the footsteps of their father and grandfather, I’ve always taken it for granted.

It wasn’t until I left school and spent a year studying engineering at university that I realised where my true career path lay. Returning home, I started working full-time on the family orchards – a 50/50 split of apples and summer fruits – and I have never looked back.

During those six years, I learnt a huge amount about running a successful orchard business, working across every different aspect of the operations from the packhouse to HR to compliance. My father and my two uncles taught me the basics of what I needed to know. I have also completed further qualifications including Level 4 Fruit Production, Level 4 Advanced Post-Harvest and a Diploma in Horticulture – Post-Harvest.

When an opportunity arose with T&G three years ago to be a shift manager in the packhouse, I was ripe for the career move. I have since been promoted to Compliance and Quality Manager, working with our teams every day to ensure that our products meet regulatory and customer quality requirements. A big part of that is making sure everyone understands why we follow these procedures, the importance of biosecurity, the sustainability and the quality values that our global customers want and expect.

I love the variety in this work, the seasonality and the people. From November to January, I have a team of 30 in the field counting fruit and checking quality, then in February during harvest another team of 14-16 assessing the quality of fruit in the orchards. Then in winter, there’s more of a focus on planning and compliance. No two days are the same.

As Young Grower of the Year, I want to encourage other young people to consider a career in New Zealand’s horticulture industry and be part of a major export sector that is helping feed the world with fresh and healthy produce.

There is a vast range of opportunities to suit every skillset and interest from leading teams of people, to being involved in research and development, global marketing to working in innovative technologies coming on stream.

There is so much to be excited about, especially with automation where New Zealand is moving ahead in leaps and bounds. If you’re looking for a stimulating and fulfilling career in a progressive industry – check out horticulture.

Grace Fulford is Young Grower of the Year 2024