Frank Piccolo interview

INTERVIEW

Frank Piccolo

What is your current role and how long have you been with the business?

I’m the manager and I’ve been with D&J Fruits for 20 years.

What led you to working in the market, and what were you doing before?

I came straight from high school to the market. It wasn’t a long-term plan at the time, I was actually planning on getting into a trade. I was only meant to help out for a couple of weeks but that turned into 20 years.

What do you enjoy most about working in the market?

The people and the environment. I also work for a family business and that’s what’s kept me here.

What is one of the biggest challenges you have faced in your career and how did you overcome it?

Probably the hours when you first start. When I first finished high school and my friends were working part time and busy studying it was challenging to get up at that early time. But as I get older it became a lot easier and just comes natural now. I hated it at the time but by the time I got to my mid 20s I really started to like it and by then my friends started settling into their careers too which helped.

Probably the hours when you first start. When I first finished high school and my friends were working part time and busy studying it was challenging to get up at that early time.

What future do you see for the market and how do you think things could be done better?

I think for the next generation the hours might need to change a little bit. You don’t get too many young workers coming into the market unless they’re in a family business already. You used to be able to find someone easy but now you only really find people in family businesses, otherwise they’ve been working in the market for a long time from a younger age. Trying to get that next age group now from 18-25 is really hard. I think they feel like they have more options and if they don’t like the hours they’ll just walk away. Years ago it was a job and people were just happy to get paid, but it’s not really like that anymore.

Tell me one-word friends would use to describe you.

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Hort Connections

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Hort Connections 2022 will be held at the Brisbane Convention Centre from the 6th-8th June. This is an opportunity to grow your connections, learn about the latest industry research and innovations, and immerse yourself in Australia and New Zealand’s leading horticulture event. The theme for Hort Connections 2022 is Growing Together to symbolise the resilience and adaptation of the industry post-pandemic. The event will focus on ways the horticulture industry can build back better and create a more resilient food system to continue feeding local, national and international customers. Speakers and exhibitors will be showcasing the latest research, technologies and innovations to offer new perspectives on how the industry can grow together. And as in previous years, Hort Connections will highlight and display exciting new possibilities that will help to shape the industry – whether it be technological, financial, and labour solutions or environmentally sustainable options that are now available on the Australian market and beyond. If you are looking to expand your operation, network with industry professionals, conduct business, examine trends, and discuss topics of common interest, Hort Connections 2022 is the event for you.

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