Australian cherry growers remain concerned about the availability and willingness of harvest labour—not just for their crop, but for all crops that need fruit pickers.
Cherries in particular have a short shelf life and harvesting cannot be delayed more than a day at the most during the warm to hot months.
Growers are finding it difficult enough having to deal with things like the weather and changing market forces, let alone having to comply with the added rules of engagement brought on by Covid-19.
Casual labour is often too casual
I've had some experience trying to assist with harvest jobs for unemployed pickers in the past.
Once a large group of people have agreed to start, one third do not show and one third should have stayed home.
Only about a third of the original group are grateful for a job and turn out okay.
Is it any wonder then that growers turn to contractors to fulfil their labour needs, as it's costly and a waste of valuable time for the grower and worker to fill in the necessary taxation paperwork and superannuation forms only to find that the workers do not stay long enough to qualify.
Dealing with constantly changing rules
There are many unknowns when it comes to issues such as quarantine requirements for overseas workers (and even Aussie workers crossing state borders). Growers have to deal with rules that constantly change to fit changing circumstances.
By the time some workers arrive in a regional area to begin work, that harvest may have been completed, and the next fruit or vegetable might be ready to harvest.
A not so rapid response
All industry bodies have been united in raising this problem as an issue that requires solving, but will anything be done in time for this harvest? Only time will tell.
Politicians both state and federal say they are listening and understand the issues, but the issue about harvest labour has been looming since the end of last season’s harvest!
It seems to take a long time even to start something that may bring about a meaningful change to remedy the labour situation.
As the cherry harvest is now well under way, one can only hope that timely progress can be made and that lessons can be learned that will assist other horticultural harvests across the country.
See this article in Tree Fruit Nov 2020
