On a day-to-day basis he guides a team of workers with disabilities through their daily tasks of tending the berry farm and picking the fruit.

Brian grew up in Orange and a love of the land saw him head off to Hurlstone Agricultural College.

He went on to study horticulture at Hawkesbury Agricultural College was employed by the Department of Agriculture as a pest control officer when he graduated.

When he returned to Orange he worked at the Orange Agricultural College, which came under the auspices of the department before it became autonomous in the 1980s.

“There has certainly been some changes out there since then,” Brian says.

“The college became part of the Armidale university, and then a mixture of Charles Sturt University, Sydney University and back to Charles Sturt.”

Eight years ago he took on the management role at Huntley Berry Farm and since then has overseen a growth in the business, which plays an important part in the community.

Since he began his career he has seen a major shift away from the use of pesticides in fruit and vegetable production and a growing awareness of “fresh is best”.

Brian says the flooding of the Australian market with fruit and fruit products from places like China will continue to have a negative impact on Australian growers.

“I think in the end we will win out but I think times will get tougher before then,” he said.

“Australian people will come to realise, if they haven’t already, that in places like China there are no restrictions on the use of pesticides like we have here now in Australia.”

Brian says his working life continues to revolve around the challenges of the seasons, but says the Huntley Berry Farm’s bore has taken a great deal of pressure off having to manage the use of water on the farm.

“It’s been great for us,” he said.

Brian says it is also gratifying to see the many products made at the berry farm now available in the wider market place, such as the Orange Region Farmers’ Market and other outlets around the city, as well special market days in Sydney such as Taste Orange @ Bondi.

He says watching some of his clients grow and develop as they come to work at the berry farm, in what is perhaps the first job they have ever had, is extremely gratifying.

“We have some great workers,” he said.