Quaives farm adjusts berry crop combination and growing systems

摘要

Paul Kelsey's team at Quaives Farm near Canterbury are constantly adjusting their business practices to meet the needs of tomorrow's customers whilst addressing the immediate pressures of today's business. In meeting East Kent Fruit Society members recently Paul Kelsey revealed that not only was his business increasing its production area of blackberries and primocane raspberries, but also reducing its area of strawberries as it converts to 100% tabletop production. "We have had to take a critical look at the use of our seasonal workforce over the whole of the annual growing season, which has become increasingly more difficult to manage with certainty in recent years," said Paul Kelsey. "2008 has been both a season of nightmares, as we battled witha large turnover of staff, but also in dealing with the reality that it is a huge cost centre to the whole operation, impacting severely on margins". Despite drawing from four sources of seasonal labour, including Concordia, Fruitful and neighbouring farming units using similar labour sources, Paul Kelsey has drawn from his own 'returnees'. "We are now recognising that there are enormous differences between one nationality of worker and another, especially with regard to individual motivation, and particularly towards earning attractive money during the harvest season", added Paul.