What began as a ‘stopgap’ job has blossomed into a 20-year career for Rob at Costa. Starting as a raspberry picker in Corindi, NSW, Rob has worked his way up and is now the Raspberry Farm Manager in Tasmania.
“We had owned a small café in Coffs Harbour, and after selling that business, I did a bit of travelling and picking,” Rob explains. When his wife was expecting their second baby, the family returned to Corindi, and Rob began working in maintenance at the Costa Berry farm.
From there, he progressed through roles in irrigation, operations management, and in 2018, he moved with his family to Tasmania to manage the 9 Mile Farm. “There’s always been opportunity in the business to progress in your career. The two things I’ve really liked at Costa are the new challenges and the people. You get to work with everyone—from pickers to senior management—and I’ve been supported from day one.”
For Rob, success comes down to people skills and persistence, and he’s passionate about promoting horticulture as a great career choice. “Food is something we all need, and it’s an industry that I see will keep growing and growing.”