Kia ora Everyone,
Its great to have heaps of students back in with the Fruit Production team this month. Our Certificate in Primary Industry Skills has 20 students already completing their tractors and managing workplace risks courses and have fruit support structures coming up soon. Another cohort will be starting next month.
Level 3 Fruit Production students start with soils next week, and the level 4s are starting crop protection. They should have completed their first course of Complying with Market Needs.
The Level 5 Fruit Production Diploma has kicked off again with Horticulture Business skills, students are learning about budgeting and CAPEX planning. It was great to see the students after a ‘normal’ harvest season with them all commenting on the quality of the crop. We would like to thank Allan Mouat for taking us around the packhouse and really delving into the efficiencies that can be attained and improved packout performance by fully understanding pack house class and reject standards.
We are looking to engage with your promising Post Harvest staff to find enrolments for the Post Harvest Diploma that starts in July. We need enrolments as soon as possible to keep our career pathway going. If you or your staff are interested, please get in touch at SHartley@eit.ac.nz. and see the link for a summary of the course.
Finally have a look at this excellent resource developed by the Food and Fibre CoVE, to help attract retain and grow staff https://www.employertoolkitnz.org/
All the best
Claire, Steven and Chris
