Name: Ross
Title/role: Vegetable Producer
Location: Bonaccord Quality Produce
Ross is part of the family team who owns and operates Bonaccord Quality Produce, a vegetable producing company growing broccoli and other vegetables such as carrots and beans at Lindenow in East Gippsland. In 2005-06 the farm produced over 16 million kilograms of vegies!

Description of work undertaken
As Ross is responsible for sales and marketing, along with the financial management of the business, he spends much of his working day behind a desk. However, it is important that he has a good understanding of all aspects of the farming business which is really a process line - from paddock to you, the consumer.

This process includes a range of different horticulture tasks - raising the seedlings in the nursery, working in the paddocks, planting, cultivating and irrigating, harvesting the crops, storing, packing and transporting. Other roles include the marketing and financial and workforce management.

After leaving school, Ross worked for a rural supplies company, then as a builders' labourer before joining the family business. His parents were very keen that their family gain experience outside farming before making the decision on whether to make farming their career.

Advice to students
His suggestion to young people who may be interested in making farming their life, is to seek opportunities to develop skills outside farming which are very transferable. Trade qualifications and experience, for example, provide both useful practical skills on a farm and also other options for the future. Skills in finance and communication are also very practical and important in today's farming businesses.

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