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Twenty-three year old Janette Cowan has found her niche at Seeka Kiwifruit Industries in Te Puke where she works in Grower Relations and Corporate Marketing.

Janette’s always known that horticulture was where her heart lay. From a farming then orchard background it seemed natural for her to walk the horticulture path.

She embarked on a cadetship with Seeka (comprehensive orcharding and post harvest supply company to the kiwifruit and avocado industry) and then enrolled with Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, studying the National Certificate in Horticulture L2, before progressing through to L4 and Advanced.

“I loved the programme, especially the second year which was so hands on,” said Janette. “You can specialise in so many different areas – from administration through to orchard management; it also opens up so many doors through working in different facilities for work experience.

“In the cadetship we learnt grafting, plant science and orchard reports. The advanced programme was a lot more focussed on small business management within industry, the financial and cashflow side of business, and of course, how to generate better returns for growers.”

Janette’s long term goals are all based around horticulture – why change a good thing? She loves her job at Seeka and loves the lifestyle here in the Bay.

“The kiwifruit and avocado industries are always changing. It presents its own challenges but I love it!”