The following article was first published in the Australian & New Zealand Olivegrower & Processor, March 2024 – see page 45.
Not all olive producers have the scale to justify their own machine harvesting, or the capital to purchase the equipment. The olive harvest/processing season therefore sees many producers engaging contractors to provide services on their properties, so here’s a timely reminder of the importance of being informed and aware of any service arrangement you’re entering into.
Do your homework
There are currently quite a few new people coming into the industry, so for them in particular it’s important to do a bit of homework before committing to a contract or service with an operator they haven’t done business with before.
And start now, if you haven’t already: a rushed deal is often only a good deal for one party. Ideally, talk to other experienced growers about who they use and how the contractual process generally works – terms and conditions, charges, etc.
Work out the range of pricing you should be looking at when negotiating with a contractor. Then discuss the same aspects with (where possible) with several contractors, and ensure the arrangement is suitable and viable for your business.
Contract services are often in high demand, or there may only be one operator available in your region, but don’t feel pressured to accept a deal which doesn’t work for you.
Write it down and sign up
Once you’ve pulled together all of the necessary information and are happy with the agreed contract service arrangement, ensure the terms and conditions are confirmed in writing – and signed by both parties – before any work commences.
And while it may be a little uncomfortable to ask a ‘handshake operator’ for a written agreement, this is business. A signed contract detailing the work to be carried out, timeframes, rates/conditions of charging, etc, sets out clear expectations and obligations for both parties, and provides a legal back-up if things were to go awry.
More often, though, it does the job of ensuring that everyone is on the same page, resulting in a successful outcome where everyone goes away happy.
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Looking for a harvesting contractor?
Search Google for ‘olive harvesting contractors’.
