Seasonal harvest training

Warren Llyod, SuniTAFE Smart Farm:

Welcome to northwest Victoria. We're a major food producing area in Australia. Horticulture is very diverse by its nature. Whether we grow crops on trees or vines, or in the ground. Anything that uses water to produce high value. Let's hear from some industry experts.

Nathan Hancock:

I'm Nathan Hancock. I'm the CEO of Citrus Australia.

The citrus industry is a national industry. We have citrus growing in five states and the Northern Territory at about 27,000 hectares. In 2019, we exported 500,000 tonnes from a total of 750,000 tonnes produced. That's at a value of about $500 million.

The citrus industry has a range of different jobs. You can do seasonal work, which is more casual type of labour, picking and harvesting working in packing sheds. Or you can really invest in your career and become more of a farm manager, irrigation specialist, and really develop a set of skills that's transferable through the country but also internationally.

Anne Mansell:

I'm Anne Mansell, CEO with Dried Fruits Australia here in Mildura.

We're at the heart of the dried grape growing industry which extends from Swan Hill in Victoria, right through to the Riverland in South Australia. We have 300 growers growing on 4000 hectares and producing somewhere between 17 to 20,000 tonnes every year. We have great markets here in Australia but also overseas. Our product is the best quality product in the world for dried grapes.

There are a range of different activities that can be undertaken on a dried grape property. Pruning in winter and then in harvest in summer there's a lot of different support jobs, such as tractor, driving that are required.

Every day is a different day in the dried grape industry and it's a wonderful industry to be part of.

Neil Bennett:

Hi. I'm Neil Bennett. I'm an almond grower in the Mildura area.

We produce 65 per cent of the almonds grown in Australia of which totals about 100,000 tonnes. Sixty per cent of that goes overseas for export. Forty per cent is consumed here in Australia.

The almond industry is a good industry to be in. We have jobs ranging from irrigation, right through to harvest time. It's a good lifestyle. You're working outdoors. Friendly environment. So come and work for us.

Anthony Zappie:

Hello. I'm Anthony Zappie from Koala Grape Producers.

I grow table grapes in the Sunraysia region. In 2019, we exported over $500 million worth of exports. With 60 per cent of our produce going to export and 40 per cent of our produce going domestically.

We harvest from January to May, which is our peak labour season. And then we have a maintenance season that goes from the start of June to the end of August.

Dean Morpeth:

Hi. My name's Dean from Morpeth Farms and also the co-owner of Sharp Fruit.

We grow nectarines, peaches, plums and apricots. I'm a fourth generation farmer and it's been very exciting to see the changes and development in the horticulture industry over the years. Going forward, I'm very excited about where the horticulture industry is going.

We offer a range of jobs in the orchard and also in the packing facility where the technology is always developing and gives a wide range of opportunities for workers.

Tania Chapman, Sunwest Packing Facility:

Hi. Welcome to Sunwest Packing Facility here in northwest Victoria part of the Murray Valley region.

We produce around 20 per cent of our nation's citrus crop. Thirty per cent of the national crop is exported to any one of 52 countries around the world. And in the peak of our season the industry employs around 60,000 people.

Why wouldn't you want to be in this industry? It's a great place to be.