At Fortune Fruit, situated in Lowburn, Central Otago, Luke St John, a 23-year-old orchard technician and packhouse manager, is deeply involved in the cultivation and packaging of 38ha of cherries and 3ha of apricots. St John has been engaged full-time at the orchard since the previous August and recently clinched the title at the 2024 Central Otago Young Grower competition, a surprise win given his relatively short seven-month tenure in the industry at the time. His accolades include a $1500 prize alongside trips to prominent industry conferences and a $1000 grant for professional development.
St John's aspirations extend to owning an orchard within Central Otago, focusing on cherry and peach production. His journey in horticulture is supported by his pursuit of a New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Production (Fruit Production Level 4) through Otago Polytechnic. Currently, his responsibilities at Fortune Fruit involve intensive fruit thinning on apricot trees, with the entirety of the apricot yield destined for the domestic market. The peak season, spanning from the post-New Year period into February, sees the orchard and packhouse bustling with approximately 120 staff, primarily tasked with cherry exports to cater to international markets, including the Chinese New Year celebrations.
St John, a Dunedin native with a background in botany from the University of Otago, has cultivated a passion for plant life despite an initial disinterest in biology during his school years. His tenure at Fortune Fruit has seen him evolve from a seasonal worker during university breaks to the packhouse manager for the past three summers, a role he finds particularly fulfilling as it allows for the tangible observation of the collective's labor. The dynamic of returning staff, residing in on-site accommodations, contributes to a positive working environment, underscoring the seasonal intensity and communal effort inherent in the agricultural sector.
Source: Rural Life