Horowhenua's vegetable growers have been scrambling to keep their operations going under the new normal and that has meant a lot of creative rejigging of systems and teams to keep everyone safe. Not all are able to keep working.
"We have a lot of extra safety protocols in place andwe are improving on those every day," said Woodhaven Gardens' Jay Clarke. "We are doing everything we can to give the country what it needs and to keep our workers safe."
"This situation has changed everything for us, and I am very proud of our staff who are having to cope with so many changes in such a short period of time.
Jay Clarke of Woodhaven Gardens.
"Within six days we converted a cold storeroom into a second packing shed for 15 workers. Our electricians, builders, plumbers have all step up to help us achieve this."
All staff have been issued masks and where achieving the required 2m distance from other people is difficult all staff have been issued with masks and respiratory goggles.
All work surfaces are sanitised five times a day and the business has effectively been split in two, working in two different places.
"In those two halves teams are separate too, so that the spinach team has no contact with the broccoli team," said Clarke.
"We are also teaching our staff how they can stay safe while at home."
Fresh produce at Woodhaven Gardens.
Because of independent vegetable shops have been closed the company's turnover has shrunk by 50 per cent and Woodhaven Gardens is in the process of applying for the subsidy the government has been offering.
"We want to keep going as long as possible...but after that?"
Despite the drop in turnover the workers at Woodhaven Gardens are busier than ever as the new systems make processes take a bit longer than normal.
"I too am so busy I have no time to think about bigger things, such as what to do after the lockdown," said Clarke.
The company has made 2000 reusable face masks, which are thoroughly cleaned at the end of each day.
At Lewis Farms staff also have home-made face masks. Owner Geoff Lewis said that most dairy farms can cope with self-isolation.
Geoff and Liz Lewis.
"They are managing extremely well. Every farm has in effect its own bubble already and the delivery and collection of milk is fully automated."
For meat farms it is a different story as many met works have slowed considerably, he said.
Lewis said many horticulture firms have well developed systems in place.
He said he had noticed the market was very quiet, as people are buying less. By shopping less the demand for fresh food is also much lower.
"I have a sense many people are fearful of going to the supermarket, but they all have excellent systems in place and are managing the situation very well. The risk of picking up the virus at the supermarket is very low," he said.
"Most Covid-19 cases seem to go back to situations where many people congregate at close quarters."
One of Lewis Farms' 15 poly tunnels full of strawberry plants.
He said Lewis Farms is fully staffed and the firm also has a separation plan in place.
"Each tractor driver is now by him or herself and drives the same vehicle exclusively."
All work surfaces and door handles are disinfected at least five times a day.
"Our staff are also very vigilant."
He said he supported his staff with food parcels, so they did not have to line up at the supermarket.
All staff are masked, and his wife Liz has been very busy turning her sewing room into a little factory, making face masks.
"The added bonus of wearing a face mask is that it makes you touch your face less. Somehow you are more conscious of touching your face if you have a mask on and that helps against infections."
Tony and Lisa Dale-Low of Waikawa Fresh in Manakau. WGP 11Oct19 - Tony and Lisa Dale-Low of Waikawa Fresh in Manakau.
At Waikawa Fresh, which supplies supermarkets, staff are still busy, but turnover is down and fresh lettuces not finding a taker are going back into the soil. Since all foodbanks are closed we cannot even give our surplus away," said owner Lisa Dale-Low.
"The public do not seem to think fresh veg is an essential," she said. Turnover is down from previously forecast for the time of year.
The number of visitors to the farm has been drastically reduced and the number of staff touching a particular piece of equipment is strictly controlled and hand washing a very regular occurrence.
"The guidance from the government has been really good and we get good support from Horticulture New Zealand with daily updates to keep us informed. Support from government department has also been good."
