Ask anyone who works in horticulture what they love the most about the industry, and one answers comes up time and time again: no two days are the same.
There’s also a distinct satisfaction in seeing the results of your efforts – especially when those efforts contribute to feeding the nation.
We spoke to nine people working across the industry to find out what they love most about working in horticulture, and what keeps them coming back each day.
Riley Graves, Agronomist
“You’re always on the move. It’s something new every day — different crops, different people, and real impact. Just have a go and start doing it.”
Vanessa Russo, Sustainability Manager
“The most rewarding part is the sense of purpose and achievement I get from my work. I enjoy interacting with different parts of the business and stepping outside my comfort zone. Every day is different, and I’m constantly learning, which makes the role very fulfilling.”
Nicole Stevens, Farm Manager
“Every day is different. Every day is a challenge — but it’s what you make it. And if you want to progress and perform, it’s a great industry to do it.”
Mitchell East, Grower
“Every day is different, but every day is exciting… I love being outdoors, part of nature — you’re out there with the birds and the bees, seeing flowers open with the sunrise. Those sorts of things really give me a bit of a kick.”
Jennifer Hulme, Protected Cropping
“It’s such a fulfilling job — you see your produce in your friends’ fridges, at restaurants, on supermarket shelves, and know you made that impact.”
Isaac Guise, Operations Manager
“I love working in horticulture because of the opportunities it gives me — from the paddock to the supermarket shelf, it’s incredible to see what goes into getting fresh produce to people.”
Emily Nellis, Agronomist
“The coolest thing about my job is that every day is different — I get to see a range of crops, I’m outside, I meet with lots of really exciting, really cool people, and it keeps me on my toes.”
Lisa Mengel, Sales
“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.”
Antonio Fragnito, Mechanic
“Working in horticulture gives you a strong sense of purpose. Being far from the city, you rely on the people around you, and it fosters a close-knit, family-like work environment. You’re not just a number; you’re part of a team where everyone helps each other.”
