YOUR LEVY AT WORK
TAKING THE HEADACHE OUT OF COMPLIANCE Words by Elaine Fisher
Horticultural Consultant Carla Clelland is running a regional maturity monitoring programme for Honeycrisp apples
Meeting compliance requirements is a vital part of operating a fresh produce business, but for many growers, navigating the rules, regulations and paperwork can be a headache, says Carla Clelland, self-employed horticultural consultant. “Many of my clients find compliance overwhelming. They don’t have the time or resources to spend on the paperwork, because they are focused on their passion which is producing a quality product, or they are not confident with the technology involved in meeting the requirements.” Carla, whose business is based in South Canterbury, says it’s rewarding to help growers navigate compliance issues or write a system manual for them. “New Zealand’s horticultural produce has a reputation for its high quality, food safety and environmental standards so it’s vital growers comply. It makes sense for them to focus on what they do best, growing great quality food, and outsource what they find hard or don’t have time for,” says Carla, who is also a member of Women in Horticulture. Carla’s roles include consultancy and compliance work for growers, post-harvest operators, exporters and industry organisations covering a number of crops, including Honeycrisp apples, and export onions and potatoes. 12
NZGROWER : APRIL 2021
“My work is about providing growers with timely and accurate data to support their decision-making including crop estimates, budgeting, cash flow and logistics.” Carla is also involved in running a regional maturity monitoring programme for Honeycrisp apples to ensure they are picked at optimum maturity. Horticulture was not her first choice of career when she decided to study for a Bachelor of Business Studies and Bachelor of Science at Massey University. “As part of my studies I did a horticultural paper and was hooked. That cemented the decision to choose horticultural science as a major in tandem with finance. Many people thought that a strange combination, but in hindsight it was a really good choice. I thought I would pursue a career in rural banking, but then I got a fantastic summer student job with AgFirst in Hawke’s Bay and was hooked on horticulture.”
I got a fantastic summer student job with AgFirst in Hawke’s Bay and was hooked on horticulture The seeds of Carla’s future may have been sown even earlier. “My parents had a kiwifruit orchard in Gisborne in the 1980s and my father, Chris Emms, was involved in
