Stacey Scott has worked in orchards for 19 years and is the winner of the Excellence in Horticulture at the Hawke’s Bay Fruitgrowers’ Association awards.

Stacey Scott strolls through the rows of apple trees of Waimea orchard. She scrutinizes the apples for any potential quality problems. The picking season is in full swing. It’s the busiest time of the year for the 36-year-old orchard worker who needs to keep up with the pickers and make sure they have the resources they need. However, Stacey’s duties go far beyond that.                                                                        

The mother of a 14-year-old has worked in orchards for 19 years, initially without any relevant qualification. After years of thinning trees and picking fruit, Stacey felt she had to upskill. The hands-on programmes offered at EIT were the right add-on to her practical work experience.

 Last year Stacey completed a NZ Certificate in Horticulture (Advanced level 4) and in January she won the award for Excellence in Horticulture at the Hawke’s Bay Fruitgrowers’ Association annual awards ceremony. Currently Stacey is studying a Diploma in Horticulture Production Fruit Production (level 5). 

 One would think that after working in the industry for close to two decades, Stacey would know everything about it. “I don’t know as much as I thought I would,” smiles Stacey, “Studying soil management, botany and human resource management is creating exciting new opportunities. We learn about spraying programmes, pests and diseases, all the stuff which is fundamental for growing fruit successfully.”

 Her new qualifications enable Stacey to take on a wider range of jobs on the orchard. Over the last years she gained the expertise to plant and prune trees and to mix chemicals and spray without supervision. She also organises the seasonal workers around the orchard.

Stacey has moved up in responsibility. “My boss appreciates my good knowledge and is happy about my progress.”

 At the moment Stacey’s day begins at seven in the morning. Cruising the field with her tractor she collects full apples bins and brings empty ones back to the orchard, on good days up to 400. “2019 is a great apple year,” notes Stacey taking a closer look at some bright red Envy, “Enough rain, enough heat and cold mornings in February to convert the apple’s starch into sugar and to enhance the colour.”

 Stacey is currently the only woman working at Waimea orchard. “And I’m the oldest worker too. I love my job because it allows me to work independently and most of all outside, all year around.”