4 minute read
Taking the headache out of compliance
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. “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.”
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
Being self-employed allows Carla Clelland to enjoy family time, including with son Jackson, cycling part of the Te Araroa Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail between Lake Tekapo and Twizel earlier this year
process tomato production in the early days of Cedenco, working for the Witters family. “So that probably shaped my early experiences of horticulture. Later as a teenager, I had an enterprise growing sunflower seedlings and selling them through our parents’ service station in Napier.” For nine years she was a horticultural consultant with AgFirst Consultants in Hawke’s Bay before moving to South Canterbury in 2013 working in a business development role for a vertically integrated pipfruit business.
The transition to self-employment has – in Carla’s words – been “organic,” beginning in 2015 with the offer of some part-time work shortly after the birth of her second child. The opportunities and flexibility of being self-employed fitted Carla’s family life and she has continued to grow her consultancy business, now working during school hours and in the evenings. “I can still accomplish a full day’s work, but not within the typical eight to five format. For me it is important to define ‘working time’ versus ‘family time’ and stick to this.” While being self-employed is not for everyone, Carla says it can be an ideal way to balance lifestyle and work. “Time management is a key requirement, as is business management. Building good relationships with your clients is imperative. It is important to put yourself in your client’s shoes and think about how the service or product you provide will help their business create value.” She also advises finding a good accountant to ensure all the tax and financial requirements are met, if business management is not a strength. “If you are passionate about what you do and a self-employed business model aligns with your personal goals in life, then take the risk and do it. Horticulture, which is right up there in innovation and wonderful products, is full of inspiring people to support you.”
For more information about Women in Horticulture visit:
https://women-in-hort.co.nz/
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