Realistic Optimism

Module Overview

The avocado industry is experiencing a downturn. Farmstrong caught up with Apata avocado manager Logan Whenuaroa about managing the challenges ahead.

Tell us about your job.

I manage the avocado business unit for Apata in the Bay of Plenty. My team and I deal with around 150 growers. We’re part of their fruit growing journey from pollination right through to harvest and packing.

Where are things at in the industry?

It’s been a tough couple of years. The returns haven’t been great – in two of the last four years, not even break even.

How do you keep people going in such difficult market conditions?

It’s a combination of being realistic, but also optimistic enough to keep the lights turned on. The fortunate part is that most people aren’t solely relying on their avocados. Many of our current clientele are semi-retired or retired so there are different levels of exposure to the market.

There must still be some tough conversations.

We’re fortunate we’ve got a really supportive grower network. They realise we’re trying to get the best returns we can for them. But yes, it’s hard having a conversation with a grower when their business isn’t performing well for them.

How do you approach those conversations?

As openly and honestly as possible. It’s also about spending time with people. I’ve learnt that people don’t need to be fixed, they just want to be heard and felt. Sometimes they might not like the answer you give them, but that doesn’t mean it’s the wrong answer.

You sound skilled at having what Farmstrong calls a listening conversation – a chat that helps others manage stress and pressure.

That how I try to operate. The other big thing is showing some emotion and vulnerability yourself, so people feel able to reciprocate. When you’re building trusted relationships like that it’s important to talk about more than just avocados.

How else do you support growers during tough times?

We look for opportunities to get people together. We’ve got a great grower committee. They host coffee mornings where growers talk about growing issues. And those chats can be about anything. People often discover that the problems that they’re having are similar to what others are experiencing. Like they say, a problem shared is a problem halved.

You’re supporting all these people, who supports you?

Funnily enough I’ve got a couple of growers who regularly call in and check on me. They’ll call and say, ‘how are you Logan?’ and that’s quite humbling. They recognise that I do have a lot of decisions and weight on my shoulders and that it’s important to support me as well. I can’t ask for any more than that.

I also have a very supportive family. They know the horticulture industry is seasonal and they really support me in my role.

What do you do to recharge mentally?

I play a little bit of golf here and there. It’s good exercise, it’s social and it gives you that mental space. I also enjoy reading self-help type books. I like finding out what can I learn and apply to my job that’s going to help others. And obviously spending time with my family. We make an effort to go out at least one day a week to a park, a beach or a café.

How do prevent taking work pressures home?

I’ve got a slowdown ritual. From the time I get home till 7pm, that’s my family time. I don’t pick up work emails or phone calls during that period and the people I deal with know that. It’s a bit different during harvest, but the rest of the time I’m creating that space for recovery.

What about managing work hours?

Because horticulture is a 7-day-a-week industry, we rotate the weekend work so that my team and I only work every 3rd weekend.

What about days when the challenges are coming from all directions?

I practice mindfulness – taking the time to stop and notice my thoughts and reset. That really helps. If I’m feeling overwhelmed, I’ll just go for a walk to clear my head.

Anything else?

Yes, I have a list of two minute jobs to dial down the pressure. Small tasks that don’t take a lot of brain power. A two minute job might be respond to an email or schedule an appointment.

What’s the benefit of doing that?
If you’re feeling stuck mentally, it just gets the ball moving. Essentially, they’re cycle breakers that get you out of that negative head space. Two minute jobs also tend to be low consequence. If you get them wrong, it’s not the end of the world. It might not work for everyone but that’s what works for me.

What’s your advice to growers feeling ‘under the pump’ at the moment?

When you work in agriculture and horticulture a lot of the pressures like the weather or market prices just go with the territory. A grower has a saying I like that captures that – ‘some days you’re the pigeon and some days you’re the statue’.

There’s no doubt, it’s going to be a challenging few years ahead, but that’s ok, it’s allowed to be challenging. The question is how do we get through and what are we going to do differently? If the current system isn’t working for you, do you need to change your operating model? If so, what are your options? Are you open to new opportunities? If people are feeling a bit down, that sort of thinking can help them find the spark again.

The reality is we’re still growing something that people love and there are plenty of people who really care about the industry, so let’s help each other through.

Farmstrong is a nationwide, rural wellbeing programme that helps farmers and growers to manage the ups and downs of the industry. Last year more than 15,000 farmers and growers attributed an increase in their wellbeing to the programme. To find out what works for you and lock it in, head to www.farmstrong.co.nz