Apple-growers are leaving fruit on trees in some orchards in New Zealand because of a shortage of workers.
The Hawke’s Bay Fruitgrowers Association executive officer Diane Vestey said: “You only have to look around the region to see the orchard gate signs urgently calling for employees. Some have insufficient numbers of staff to pick their crops and have opted not to take the fruit off the trees.”
Over 6098 job seekers, 672 employers and 78 accommodation providers have registered on www.picknz.co.nz.
“It has been hectic - picknz.co.nz is working well and we have also to set up a phone messaging system which is updated every hour,” Vesty says.
Horticulture New Zealand director Ru Collin said the peaks of the season were like time bombs in that when the fruit is ready it has to come off.
“Shortages in workers are being felt but there is a real crush with fruit maturing fast in this heat. Generally speaking we are holding it together but there is one more extremely busy week ahead.”
Collin said the season is running a week earlier than normal and the peaks will also be in a more condensed period.
“The pressure is now on,” he said. “The second peak of the season, for Braeburn apples in Hawke’s Bay will fall before Easter and we need to keep workers here and interested in working before following the harvest trail to Bay of Plenty,” Mr Collin said.
Hawke’s Bay was recently declared a region of “absolute labour shortage” by the Department of Labour.
To help prevent a seasonal labour shortage the Department of Labour initiated a pilot seasonal work permit policy allocating 4000 permits. Last year only 800 permits were issued for Hawke’s Bay.
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