As the summerfruit season comes to an end within the next few weeks, there will hopefully soon be a chance to rest and reflect on the season. We’ve heard from many of you about how stressful the season has been, having to deal with a severe labour shortage and the looming threat of Omicron.
The 2022-23 season looks more promising as New Zealand’s borders slowly re-open. Working holiday visas will start to be issued later this year, and we look forward to welcoming new travelers to our regions who will hopefully help with the harvest next season.
Summerfruit NZ also welcomes the news that the Government has increased the cap on workers from the Pacific under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme to 16,000 workers.
The cap increase will support the summerfruit sector, and wider horticulture industry, in the longer term and will help relieve some of the stress that growers have been under. It’s good that the Government has supported the RSE scheme in this way, as it is a win-win for the Pacific and New Zealand. The scheme supports our Pacific neighbours and enables New Zealand’s horticulture industry to grow and create hundreds of permanent jobs across the country.
When you’re next looking at your Facebook or Instagram accounts, please also take the time to check out the Summerfruit NZ and Handpicked Crew pages, and we welcome your comments and feedback. We’re using these platforms to promote the industry and to encourage people to join the seasonal workforce.