Welcome to the Evolvepreneur (After Hours) Show
I am your Special Host Richard Wray
Join me today where we dig deep with our guests and get you the best concepts and strategies to fast-track your business.
My very special guest today is Catherine Velisha ...
Catherine is the Managing Director of Velisha Farms, overseeing Victorian growing operations and a large packing facility. She is the third-generation horticulturist in her family, taking over from her father in 2017. Catherine has expanded the business, acquiring land in Tatura and Caldermeade for seasonal and year-round vegetable production. She has received prestigious awards and regularly appears in media.
Catherine's focus is on improving business practices, connecting with customers, and promoting sustainability. Despite challenges during COVID, she strives for continuous improvement and considers the impact of technology on farming goals. Winning awards boosts team morale, but growth remains her primary objective.
Key Moments:
- Catherine took over her family's vegetable farming business in 2017 after working in various roles within the business for many years. She has made changes to focus more on costs and operations.
- Catherine values connecting with customers and educating them about farming practices to build trust and understanding. She created the Veg Education program for this purpose.
- Standards of perfection for produce lead to a lot of waste in the farming industry. There is a need for more education and flexibility from customers.
- During COVID and other challenges, Catherine's business was able to keep running which she is grateful for. However, farmers still face many difficulties.
- Food security and understanding how food is produced is important for the future. Large companies taking over farms could be an issue.
- Catherine enjoys aspects of media and communication work that require her to perform and deliver her message clearly in the moment.
- Technology and automation will likely play a bigger role in farming to address labor issues but there are costs and trade-offs to consider.
- Awards have helped boost team morale but Catherine does not dwell on them for too long personally.
- Catherine advises that if you are pushing forward constantly, you will never feel "at the top." There will always be more to learn.
- Catherine's Veg Education program aims to educate secondary students about food, agriculture and career opportunities in the industry.
About The Show
Evolvepreneur (After Hours) Show features guest stories about entrepreneurs and their journeys from startup, growth to success.
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