Labor worries seem to have mostly disappeared in Central Otago. While fruit had been left to rot in some parts of Central Otago over the past couple of years due to heavy rain and lack of labor, this summer might finally be better.
Chief executive Tim Jones of 45 South said they had been picking cherries for export since December 10. The rain before Christmas was annoying but did not do any substantial damage, he said. There were good volumes of fruit and the weather was playing its part with warmer nights helping the ripening.
While backpackers were not back to pre-Covid numbers there were plenty of pickers, Jones said. The orchard had about a third each of New Zealanders, backpackers and recognised-seasonal-employer-scheme workers, he added.
Clyde Orchards co-owner Kevin Paulin said they were having a break from picking cherries until the new year. The last of their early cherries were picked yesterday, the next variety would not be ready until Tuesday.
Source: odt.co.nz