SAP Landscapes took on 50 seasonal workers from March to October, and also took on a HR manager this year. SAP Landscapes also hopes to fill 60 seasonal roles in 2017, depending on demand. The company will begin recruiting to fill those roles in January. A small number of seasonal workers who impress will be kept on.

Keelings, based in north Co Dublin, is an Irish-owned family business, focused on the growing, sourcing, shipping, marketing and sales and distribution of fresh produce – mostly fruit but also vegetables. Keelings also supplies produce-specific ERP software solutions and consultancy. The company took on 148 new employees in 2016. The numbers working for the company have increased by 20% since 2012 to 1,993.

Meade Potato Company, which grows, packs and distributes potatoes, vegetables, salads, organics and frozen products and which is based in Lobinstown, Co Meath, took on 56 staff in 2016. Twenty-one of those were newly created roles for buyers, general operatives, supervisors, and people in quality control.

Special focus: agri careers

Jobs on the landscape

There is lots of seasonal work with SAP Landscapes while Keelings has seen employee numbers increase from 1,666 to 1,993 since 2012 writes Mary Phelan.