A fruitful partnership

“I did not want to have anything to do with CIE,” says Catherine Solomon of Gourmet Blueberries in Hawke’s Bay. “That was before I decided I would try working with them…”

Now Gourmet Blueberries has 10 prisoners employed on Release to Work. “Not only to work with the blueberries though,” says Catherine. “We also grow strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, leeks, cherries, shallots, corn and peas. At least four of the prisoners are involved in the harvesting and grading of leeks.”

“I did not want to have anything to do with CIE,” says Catherine Solomon of Gourmet Blueberries in Hawke’s Bay. “That was before I decided I would try working with them…”

Now Gourmet Blueberries has 10 prisoners employed on Release to Work. “Not only to work with the blueberries though,” says Catherine. “We also grow strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, leeks, cherries, shallots, corn and peas. At least four of the prisoners are involved in the harvesting and grading of leeks.”

On time
Regularly CIE Release to Work case managers approach businesses for employment opportunities. Bryce Wiggins is the person who does this in Hawke’s Bay and he would visit Gourmet Blueberries quite often. It took a while to convince Catherine but in December 2008 she finally agreed to have one prisoner on a trial basis.

“It was such an unexpectedly good experience. We usually have such unreliable workers,” says Catherine. “And here was this prisoner who turned up on time and just worked very hard. Since then I asked for a few more prisoners to join us.”

The prisoners work in the whole scope of the blueberry production: propagation, pruning, thinning, spraying, and packaging of blueberries. One prisoner is even a leading hand and Catherine says that he will stay on after he’s released from prison.

Selection
Catherine has developed a good relationship with Hawke’s Bay Prison. CIE Area Operations Manager Phil Harman says, “We carefully make a selection of prisoners who we think would be good and reliable prisoners to work at Gourmet Blueberries. Catherine comes to the Self Care Unit herself, talks to the prisoners and makes her own decision.”
 
Catherine is also happy with the partnership: “And if there is a problem, Bryce gets onto it straight away. It’s all worked out pretty well.”