A close-up on New Zealand with Nicola Rochester

When Nicola was younger, she didn’t really know what she wanted to do. “I went to a career counselor who said, ‘What do you really love?’ but I didn’t have to think too much about that because for as long as I can remember I’ve had my fingers in the soil. ‘I love plants and science,’ I told him. ‘Then horticulture is for you,’ he responded. And so it came to pass. The connection with nature formed the basis for my career. I got my degree and never regretted my choice of horticulture!”

Nicola pursued an honors degree in horticultural science (majoring in Nutritional Biochemistry and Biometrics), which laid the foundation for her extensive career. Her role at ICL involves not just selling products but being an integral part of the growers’ journey. “It’s an absolute privilege to have growers who value my opinion and seek my advice. That’s what it’s all about – building relationships and trust,” says Nicola. “The horticultural industry is unique,” she continues, “It’s not just about growing plants; it’s about creating sustainable environments, feeding communities, and solving ecological challenges. This realization drives my commitment to the industry every day.”

“Horticulture is not just about growing plants; it’s about creating sustainable environments, feeding communities, and solving ecological challenges.”

Planes, plants, and party plans

Nicola’s responsibilities span the entire country of New Zealand. This means she travels frequently, flying between the North and South Islands to meet with  growers & clients. “I probably spend one or two nights away each week, flying and driving to various locations.” When she travels around New Zealand, her luggage often contains more than just the usual. As a passionate horticulturist, she has been known to bring boxes of plants on the plane, much to the surprise of airline staff. “I’ve been known to go to conferences with a big box full of clunky plants, with soil falling all over the place. The airline staff look at me and say, ‘Oh no, not again,’ and that makes me laugh.” 

A living portfolio

Despite the logistical hurdles, Nicola finds joy in the diversity of her work. Her home in Auckland – situated on 10 acres of land with a stand of mature native  trees and a large garden – is filled with plants from various growers. “I have made so many valuable connections over the years. When you walk through my garden, you see plants from different growers with whom I have worked over the years. It’s basically a kind of living portfolio.” Next year, Nicola will celebrate her 30th year working at ICL, and plans to host a big garden party: “I think it would be great to invite everyone here that I have connected with over the decades and have a big party together. You can’t let a milestone like this go by unseen. Celebrating this, in an environment I love, is fantastic!”

“When you walk through my garden, you see plants from different growers with whom I have worked over the years. It’s basically a kind of living portfolio.”

Keep on growing

The horticulture industry is changing rapidly and keeping knowledge up-to-date is essential. “Through the experience I have gained over all these years, I have laid a good foundation. Nevertheless, it is important to constantly keep researching and asking questions.  I try to approach each new challenge with fresh eyes, so that I can tailor the outcome to the specific needs of growers and utilize the depth of knowledge in my fellow team members,” she explains. “I always try to be transparent with the growers, because this industry is built on trust. Recently a grower commented to me ‘You know I was talking about you the other day. The difference with you is that you don’t just try to sell me a product, you spend time and show me the value of it’ . For me just that remark made my year! Once you show growers what your products can offer, you can achieve great results together. It’s about building a legacy that benefits everyone involved.”