The Career Pathways
Sales focuses on the distribution of agricultural or horticultural products locally, nationally and internationally. This field involves developing strategies to reach new markets, negotiating with buyers, and ensuring products meet trade regulations. Working in sales and trade management requires strong communication skills, market knowledge, and the ability to manage relationships with clients and partners.
Core Roles:
- Sales Manager
- Export and Domestic Trade Specialist
- Distribution Manager
- Export Compliance Specialist
Supply Chain Manager, Moffatt Fresh Produce, Queensland
Lisa Mengel
Q&A with Lisa Mengel
How did you first become interested in horticulture/ agriculture?
I was studying at university and working in a casual fast food gig as most school leavers and university students do, and was just seeking something a little bit more stable or meaningful to support what I was studying, and where I lived there was a large vegetable farming operation with an entry level role available with the opportunity for some career development.
I guess I just wanted some more meaningful experience in a business. The role was an admin role in their sales department, and they had quite an advanced system they were using and they were a well-established business. It was a great opportunity to get some systems exposure, along with some process and procedural knowledge and start to build my career up in a knowledge & capability sense.
I guess I just wanted some more meaningful experience in a business. The role was an admin role in their sales department, and they had quite an advanced system they were using and they were a well-established business. It was a great opportunity to get some systems exposure, along with some process and procedural knowledge and start to build my career up in a knowledge & capability sense.
What do you think is the most rewarding part of working in Hort?
Whilst it's immensely challenging at times it's also very rewarding to be able to see physical representation of your hard work in the final product. Being able to see the crop grow and develop, to being harvested and then being packed in the shed.Being able to go to the shop and actually see the produce that we've supplied, and knowing all of the steps it took to get to there.
To be able to take produce to your family and friends and say, “look what I got from the farm” I don't think there is any better feeling than knowing that in some way you've contributed to that.
To be able to take produce to your family and friends and say, “look what I got from the farm” I don't think there is any better feeling than knowing that in some way you've contributed to that.
Can you share a memorable project or experience that you've had that really stands out to you?
I guess probably what's really cool is to just be able to see a business take the concept of producing a crop, and being able to be a part of the decision-making process. Being able to see something from the very start through to execution and be apart of the journey throughout - that is really cool.
Can you think of any kind of big misconceptions about horticulture that people who are not in the industry might have?
I think a lot of people don't understand the breadth of knowledge people who work in horticulture have. I think people think about horticulture and they think all it takes is a person in a tractor and a truck and someone packing on a line. There is so much more to it than that - you don't have to be a farmer or an agronomist to work in the industry. We need professionals in finance, health and safety, environment and quality, human resources, engineering, food & plant sciences and so many more. There are so many things that go into the big picture.
What kind of advice would you give to a young person who doesn't really know what to do with themselves?
I definitely would recommend a career in Horticulure.
I would encourage anyone to have a go, and don't try and pigeonhole yourself into one specific thing.
Allow yourself to get into it and don't be too hung up about what you think your future role looks like. Immerse yourself in as much of the industry as you can, understand as much of it as you can. To be well-rounded in this industry is held in high esteem regardless of what role you end up sitting in.
Whether you're starting a new career, in the middle of your working life or you are wanting to slow down and find something that you can do a couple of days a week, there's so much opportunity across the industry. That applies to university graduates (or those still studying), trades people, laborers, machine operators, administration staff, supervisory and management people – the list goes on and on. There's literally a job for everyone.
I would encourage anyone to have a go, and don't try and pigeonhole yourself into one specific thing.
Allow yourself to get into it and don't be too hung up about what you think your future role looks like. Immerse yourself in as much of the industry as you can, understand as much of it as you can. To be well-rounded in this industry is held in high esteem regardless of what role you end up sitting in.
Whether you're starting a new career, in the middle of your working life or you are wanting to slow down and find something that you can do a couple of days a week, there's so much opportunity across the industry. That applies to university graduates (or those still studying), trades people, laborers, machine operators, administration staff, supervisory and management people – the list goes on and on. There's literally a job for everyone.
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