Packhouse Worker Kaimahi Whare Putunga

Packhouse workers grade, pack and store fruit, vegetables and other produce in packhouses.

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Packhouse workers may do some or all of the following:

• grade, pack and store produce according to market requirements
• assemble packaging and crates
• stack crates using forklifts
• check the quality of produce
• follow food, health and safety regulations
• maintain equipment and machinery.

Subject Recommendations

There are no specific secondary education requirements to become a packhouse worker. However, agricultural and horticultural science is useful.

Year 11-12 learners can find out more about the horticulture industry and earn unit standards towards a New Zealand Certificate in Agriculture or Horticulture (Level 1 or 2) with the Trades Academy.

Year 12-13 learners can find out more about the horticulture industry and earn NCEA unit standards through the Primary ITO Gateway programme.

Related Careers

Packhouse workers may move into forklift operator, shift supervisor or manager roles, or work in logistics (co-ordinating transport of goods).

• Forklift operator job information
• Production manager job information
• Storeperson job information
• Importer/Exporter job information

Packhouse workers may specialise in a number of roles, including:

Grader

Graders sort fruit, vegetables and other produce in order of size, type, colour and quality.

Labeller

Labellers put labels on fruit, vegetables and other produce for export. 

Packer

Packers fill trays and crates and check the quality and presentation of produce.

Post-harvest Quality Controller

Post-harvest quality controllers take samples of produce to check their size, colour and quality.

Stacker

Stackers stack packed boxes of produce in a way that ensures they do not get damaged.

Strapper

Strappers tape and wrap boxes and crates of produce.

Tray Prep

Tray preps assemble packaging, crates and trays ready to be filled with produce.