Karingal employees blossom thanks to Spade and Barrow Each time Spade and Barrow chief executive officer Katy Barfield visits Karingal Kommercial, a wave of positivity washes over her. The genuine nature of the supported employees is inspiring – a word which can also be used to describe Spade and Barrow. The not-for-profit organisation assists Australian farmers by purchasing their fresh produce which was previously being wasted because it wasn’t the right shape or size for bigger buyers. Now, the farmers send it to Karingal Kommercial where it is processed in the organisation’s state-of-the-art fully accessible North Geelong ADE facility. Supported employees have been trained to hand cut the produce, which is then distributed to cafes and restaurants. Employees work off a template and manually check the size of each piece, which Katy said is cut to perfection. “It’s been faultless,” she said.
“With a machine there are lots of inconsistencies but when there’s a human, there is quality control.” Katy highly recommended working with an Australian Disability Enterprise, saying it was a mutually beneficial partnership.
“We were looking for a like-minded social enterprise and Karingal fits the bill,” she said. “I can’t say enough amazing things about them. “I always leave feeling really good about the work we’re doing and that we’re providing people with a disability with an opportunity for employment.”