A shortage of fruit pickers may not be the issue for Central Otago orchardists this season that it has been for the past two years.
Orchardists are confident they have enough staff, with New Zealanders returning from last season and an influx of backpackers now that borders have reopened.
Tim Jones, chief executive of 45 South, said he has a full complement of 500 workers and Kevin Jackson of Jacksons Orchard said he has the 100 he needs.
“Everyone I talk to says they are pretty comfortable where they are at,” said Jones.
“They’ve had good inquiry and people on a waiting list if people don’t turn up.”
Jones said two years of promoting seasonal orchard work is paying dividends.
Jackson will need about 100 staff at the peak and said some are New Zealanders who spend summer travelling the country and look for work to top up their income.
Seasonal Solutions Co-op chief executive Shaun Fogarty said while orchards appear to have sufficient workers for the harvest, a shortage of accommodation is hindering recruitment of Pacific Islanders under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme.
For 2022-23 19,000 RSE workers can come to NZ on seven-month work visas, up from 16,000 a year ago, but Fogarty said that increase has put pressure on accommodation in regional areas where orchards are expanding.
