Sligo pair sowing seeds of future careers
SLIGO graduates Hazel Wilkinson and Conor Brennan are sowing the seeds of future careers in organic agriculture and farm management respectively after successfully securing twoyear long overseas placements under a Fyffes Graduate Management Programme.
From Ballysadare, Hazel ( 26) worked on a family sheep farm in Coolaney and is currently applying her knowledge working in Fyffes organic banana department at their San Jose base in Costa Rica.
From Sligo Town, Conor ( 24) has a mixed farming background and is currently honing his skills as a trainee farm manager on one of Fyffes banana farms in Belize.
Both are graduates of University College Dublin and two of ten applicants from across the country chosen by Fyffes to participate in their 2016 programme. Hazel has a BSc in Agriculture and a Master’s degree in Agricultural Innovation whilst Conor has a BSc in Horticulture.
Speaking from Costa Rica, Hazel described her role as working in a ‘ welcoming, open, flexible, and friendly environment’, going on to say: “the Fyffes International Graduate Management Programme has given me a unique opportunity to be part of an multinational company whose business covers the entire supply chain from production all the way through to wholesale distribution, coupled with the chance to live in a new country with an entirely different culture, and to avail of the opportunity to learn a new language.”
Speaking from Belize, Conor says the Programme ‘ helps encourage graduates with a modern way of thinking to help give the industry a push in the right direction’, adding: “my work placement has allowed me to see various stages of the production line while developing my language and people skills in exotic locations”.
Currently, Fyffes is engaged in recruiting graduates under its 2017 graduate recruitment programme and, to that end, the company invites applications from graduates interested in experiencing what its Head of Human Resources, William Faulkner says are ‘ the very special opportunities that the programme has to offer’.
Those interested in pursuing a career in agriculture, horticulture, agribusiness, agri- technology, engineering or forestry are asked to visit Fyffes LinkedIn page for further information: https:// www. linkedin. com/ company/ fyffes/