My message comes to you from Canberra this week as I am now settling into home in Australia. In reality it means little change from my previous work from home arrangements, other than a two-hour time difference. As always, I remain contactable by email, or by mobile, text, and WhatsApp on my new number +61 406 757 510.
Covid-19 remains an omnipresent threat to our seasonal operations and access to markets. To minimise the business risks please take appropriate precautions to minimise the risks of community transmission. This includes:
- having Tracer app QR codes at the entrance to all work sites (each separate orchard)
- encouraging all staff to use the Covid Tracer app at work, and outside of work
- monitoring staff for sickness and making appropriate provisions for seasonal staff if they are unwell
- ensuring normal hygiene practices are well maintained and enforced.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Carolena Swaneveld for her service to Summerfruit New Zealand. Carolena will be known to many of you as the welcoming voice at Summerfruit NZ, and we shall all miss her cheerful outlook and enthusiasm. Following a review of Summerfruit NZ structure, Carolena’s role as the Personal Assistant has been disestablished and her last day at work will be 24 December. Carolena has been with us since March 2017 and seen the substantial transition of our industry, and industry body, over that time. I wish Carolena all the very best in her future endeavours and thank her on behalf of all of our members.
Juan Rosales will also be finishing up in early January, having accepted a biosecurity readiness and response role at the Ministry for Primary Industries. Juan and I joked yesterday about him making sure he remembers what it is like on the industry side so he can ensure we are well supported on biosecurity! Juan joined Summerfruit NZ in March 2018 and has been instrumental in establishing our sector’s biosecurity awareness, and working in detail on a number of relevant Operational Agreements under the Government Industry Agreements (GIA) framework. Juan has also overseen much of the background support work to ensure our exports can occur, including our residue assurance programme and various other market requirements. My great many thanks to Juan for his service and I look forward to working with him in a new guise.