I worked in a Packhouse during COVID-19. Here’s what it taught me about adjusting to change
By: Daniel Ferguson
Tags: Produce, Fruit, Packhouse, Covid

I worked in a Packhouse during COVID-19. Here’s what it taught me about adjusting to change Daniel Ferguson May 27·4 min read

When we first heard about COVID-19, we couldn’t fathom the impact that it would have on the world. For most people, the lockdowns meant working from home. For me, it meant going to work as usual. But it wasn’t the workplace I was used to, and it never will be again.

I’m a packhouse worker. My day consists of getting freshly harvested apples packed and ready for the consumer. It’s a bustling environment, with staff working tirelessly to meet supply requirements.

One ordinary day in 2020, everything changed…

It’s hard to believe that we once worked in such close quarters. Brushing against each other as we made our way from one end of the packhouse to the other was no big deal. Now it is.

This, among many other changes, made us all on edge. Looking back, I remember feeling so conflicted. I was nervous about the significant changes, but I was also grateful to still have a job.

No one has made it through the pandemic without having to adjust somehow. I couldn’t see it at the time, but my packhouse work taught me so much about adjusting to change.

Hindsight’s a wonderful thing. Here’s what I learned.

Fighting it won’t change the outcome

Fighting change makes adjusting impossible. My instinctive response was to fight it, to argue against the new regulations. I liked things just the way they were. But I quickly realized that I was only a small piece of a very large and very complicated puzzle. If I didn’t do my part, I could cause the entire packhouse to shut down, leaving everyone out of a job.

Acceptance was the only way forward.

We fight change because we fear the unexpected. COVID-19 hit us with a slew of unprecedented situations, so it felt like we were in a constant state of adjustment. Regardless of how we felt about the changes, my team and I had a responsibility. My inability to accept change could have had an enormous impact, extending far beyond my fellow packhouse workers.

Change may bring new opportunities

The changes we made in the packhouse were more than just social distancing and hand sanitizing. The demand for fresh food increased during the pandemic as more people prioritized their health, which meant our supply requirements shot up amid a period of ongoing adjustment.

With change came opportunity. For the first time, my packhouse implemented new technology that allowed us to keep up with demand despite a lack of staff and heightened hygiene standards. I’d never worked with robotic packers before, but the technology meant we could have less staff on the operations floor while quality control and careful packing was all taken care of.

When you’re in the thick of it, it’s hard to see the positive side to change. If it weren’t for COVID-19, who knows how long it would take for us to automate the packhouse? We’re now more efficient and sustainable than ever before.

Thoughtfulness goes a long way

I make no bones about the fact that I found adjusting to change during COVID-19 extremely difficult. But when I looked around the packhouse, I saw a whole lot of people in the same boat.

Some of us are simply better at navigating change than others, and that’s ok! But when it affects a large number of people — in this case, the entire world — we need to be thoughtful of those around us.

We may never know how tough someone has it, and we may not realize how much our words and actions affect them. Beyond the changes we faced at the packhouse, I knew some of my workmates were experiencing a range of challenging situations at home. The simple act of being thoughtful helped us create a safe environment where we could all feel supported.

Talking about it makes it easier

Few events in history have impacted as many people as the pandemic, and our experiences are all very different. One major thing I learned while working through the COVID-19 pandemic is that talking about our experiences makes everything a little easier.

Whether we laughed together or shared a virtual hug, we always felt better after talking it out. Talking was how I dealt with a changing world, and I’m certain it encouraged my workmates to open up too. There was always a positive outcome as we helped each other through the tough times.

I can now see why it’s so essential for our mental health to open up to someone you trust. It certainly helped me cope with drastic change.

Remember, like all things, this too shall pass

For some, change is exhilarating. For me, it’s terrifying. But, with all that we had to adjust to during the pandemic, I think we deserve a pat on the back.

In the early days of COVID-19, it seemed like there was no light at the end of the tunnel. But I believe we’re getting closer to the light now, which proves that even the most trying situations will pass eventually.

When facing change, remember that the phase will pass. Whether it’s because you adjusted well or the problem resolved, that initial sense of fear and panic won’t stay with you forever.

Working in a packhouse during COVID-19 was my saving grace. I learned how to be resilient and, best of all, I was able to stay (distantly) connected with my workmates. The pandemic gave me a whole new appreciation for my field of work, and I’m grateful I learned so much in the process.