Desperate fruit growers in Tasmania are urgently appealing for grey nomads to help them out as they suffer from a serious shortage of pickers.
Apple orchards across the state are suffering particularly badly with some operators looking for 30 to 40 pickers at the harvest hits its height. Orchards around Spreyton in the north-west, the Tamar in the north and the Huon Valley in the south are reporting a shortage of pickers.
“We normally have a pressure point around this time as several other industries, including berries and wine grapes, compete for harvest workers,” Business Development Manager of Fruit Growers Tasmania, Phil Pyke, told the ABC. “This year is worse for the apple industry because of the big expansion in berries and vineyards in Tasmania.”
The ABC reports that the apple harvest in Tasmania is in full swing and many growers have a number of different varieties which are picked at different times.
“One grower has tried local labour for the harvest, but the workers had left the orchard by that afternoon after picking half a bin,” said Mr Pyke. “A major berry grower put 15 local workers on the farm, but all were gone within two weeks, so locals aren’t the answer.”
Apparently the issue isn’t related to the backpacker tax issue, although that might make the problems even worse next year. As well as grey nomads, fruit growers may have to look at Pacific Island workers or engage the various migrant communities in Tasmania to help out.
“The work of apple picking is repetitive but you meet people from all around the world working in the orchard,” Mr Pyke said. “And the money is not that bad.”
The Tasagjobs offers more information about which orchards require workers.
If the ferry wasnt so damn expensive Im sure that here would be more of us down there. Im not paying over $2000 to come and help.
Perhaps, if it was a lot cheaper to actually get to the apple isle, they may have more grey nomads to do the work
The reason that ‘locals’ are not the answer is because welfare benefits are too good. Why work when the Government will give you a “pay day”. Grey Nomads have a work ethic and that’s why the growers want them.
We have just come back from over 3 mths in beautiful Tasmania and to be honest am sick of the wingers complaining about the price of the trip to and fro . We booked a return trip with cabin for $1700 day trip. Some “grey nomads ” seem to just enjoy complaining their way around this beautiful country.
Not all grey nomads are rich enough to spend $1700.00 on a boat trip, we have no plans to visit Tassie any time soon. Not whinging just facing reality.
Hey Beth. Reading your comment about the prices of ferry to Tassi. We are planning to go November to February 2018. Did you fi d 3 months enough and was $1700 return or one way. I agree with you. If you want to go just pay up and shut up!,
Work a few weeks in the orchards to recoup the cost of the ferry ride and then enjoy the rest of Tasmania at your leisure.
How do I apply for picking or packing work in Tasmania?