Grower representatives from New Zealand are working with the country’s trade board to investigate the possibility of attracting Argentinean labour to the NZ top-fruit sector.

PNZI and New Zealand Trade & Enterprise are looking at opportunities to access Argentinian apple industry technical and managerial staff to partially address a skills and labour shortage in New Zealand. “In particular we are looking for experienced supervisory workers for both packhouses and orchards as well as technical workers for orchards,” Pipfruit NZ said in a statement this week. “Initially, NZT&E are investigating the feasibility of Argentinean workers but other origins may follow. The position of supervisory horticultural worker is registered with the New Zealand Immigration Service as a skill shortage. This would allow the possible issuing of work visa’s to the appropriate workers.”

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