With a significant lack of workers for the second year running, fruit growers want to avoid crops going to waste this upcoming season.
Cobram Fruit Growers president Tony Siciliano said growers would need more and more workers in the coming months.
“We need a handful of workers while we’re thinning at the moment, then every week from now on, everyone will need more help,” Mr Siciliano said.
“The whole country is struggling to find workers for every industry, so it’s going to be hard to find pickers.
“If we don’t get enough workers, fruit will get left on trees and on the back of that, fruit will go rotten and Queensland fruit fly and other insects will come.”
Mr Siciliano said working on orchards was hard work but worth the effort.
“It’s hot and sticky but it’s rewarding - not only are you helping the local economy, you’re helping yourself by getting a bit fitter and getting amongst local produce which is beneficial for your health,” he said.
There are different jobs across the season such as fruit picking, packing, thinning and pruning.
“There are jobs that don’t really need experience and you can learn as you go,” Mr Siciliano said.
Most of the fruit harvesting work is in the Goulburn Valley areas and those who relocate to take up the agricultural positions for a minimum of four weeks can apply for the Federal Government assistance package AgMove until the end of 2021.
AgMove provides up to $6000 to Australian job seekers and up to $2000 for international job seekers.
Cherry harvest will run from November to December, followed by stonefruit from December to March, pears from late January to March and apples from February to May.
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