STEPPING INTO BIG BOOTS

Sally King : Strawberry Growers NZ executive manager

That saying “on the shoulders of giants” rings very true. I am stepping into some fairly big boots after the retirement of Mick Ahern as executive manager of Strawberry Growers NZ last year. The sector has been really well served by Mick and by Rebecca Fisher (who stepped into the gap until I joined in January this year). We owe them such a huge debt of gratitude.

I don’t come with Mick’s pedigree – in fact mine is a checkered past, with roles as diverse as policy development, aviation and brewing. Over the last decade or so work has settled in government relations and association management. I will be leaning heavily on Anthony Rakich as chair and the very strong Board of Strawberry Growers NZ to learn the ropes of this sector, but I hope to be able to contribute to the success of strawberries in New Zealand.

Looking from the outside it seems that it really is an inflection point for strawberries. We are experiencing shifts towards a more capital-intensive cropping, increasing pressure from decisions at the Beehive, and some major weather issues to name but a few. We are also losing some hugely experienced growers to retirement too.

But from challenge comes opportunity, and I am keen to understand where the sector thinks our greatest potential lies in the next decade. I hope to get out and meet as many members as possible to hear what you think we can do to grow and succeed through to 2033 and beyond. Really important to us all is what sector-wide research projects will inform and assist us. That’s a key reason for our Levy; so if you have thoughts on the challenges, or ideas about the opportunities that research could help resolve, I’d really love to hear.

The Levy also supports market access. The recent success in securing exports to Vietnam is a great example. And it supports our conference – which this year we are holding in conjunction with Horticulture New Zealand in Christchurch, 1–4 August. Save the date!

I do hope you can make it to conference so we can say hi ‘IRL’ (‘in real life’– acronyms for those that don’t have teens), but if not, I’m here to serve you all, so please feel free to reach out. I’m Wellington based and available on the phone at 021 61 85 61

The last comment goes to all our members who have been seriously impacted by the weather events in the North, Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay. Kia kaha, we are all thinking of you and hoping you are finding a way through these really trying times.