YOUR INDUSTRY
Plenty of variety and career opportunities on an orchard Former professional chef, Leif Hancox, moved his career outdoors in 2019, establishing a new direction for himself in the horticulture industry. Supplied Operating in kitchens as a civilian contractor to the New Zealand Air Force, Leif had no time for anything else. Then things changed. “I love being outside and I enjoy the change of speed,” he said of the less frantic pace within the orchard. Many people in the industry would laugh to hear Leif say that, given how demanding horticulture work can be at times – but not compared to working 20 hours in a hot kitchen, he says.
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The ORCHARDIST : FEBRUARY 2022
“It’s no way near as high pressured as chefing.” Starting with Fortune Fruit in November 2019, he is currently studying Horticulture Level 4 through the Otago Polytechnic. The staff were all so friendly on the orchard and always willing to pass on information that was needed, he says. He couldn’t believe how many varieties of cherries there are – as well as the variety of people he worked with.
