A statement in the New Zealand press claiming that fruit is rotting on trees due to the unprecedented scale of the country’s agricultural labour shortage has been refuted by Ian Palmer, chairman of Pipfruit New Zealand.
“The labour shortage in the Hawkes Bay growing area is a reality, but it is certainly not at the crisis levels alluded to in the article,” he told FPJ.
The article, published by the New Zealand Press Association, claimed that, “fruit is being left to rot on the trees as Hawkes Bay growers face the worst employment shortage in years”. Palmer responded: “I am not aware of any fruit that has been left on trees, surplus to the usual fruit growers leave which does not meet market specifications.”
“There has been a much lower level of unemployment in New Zealand over the last few years, which has made fewer people available for seasonal labour,” he continued. “The apple industry has become more reliant on backpackers travelling in New Zealand to fulfil these kinds of roles.”
The Hawkes Bay and Nelson regions were recognised as having insufficient labour available for the harvest season some three months ago, but initiatives have since been put in place to minimise the problem. The harvest window has been generally fairly short in duration, according to Palmer, and this has had the effect of increasing pressure on the available labour and highlighting the shortage.
“The industry is actively working with the government to put in place medium- and long-term plans to help manage peak labour shortages, an ongoing process,” added Palmer.
