2022 harvest not time to be a passive grower

Positive images of people enjoying their work in kiwifruit orchards are part of the NZKGI labour attraction strategy

The 2022 harvest is shaping up to be the most challenging the industry has faced in the Covid-19 era – and it’s no time to be a passive grower, says Colin Bond, chief executive of New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc (NZKGI).

Elaine Fisher

“We have a history of picking every fruit and want to do that again this year, but it will be a challenge. The first step for growers is to be aware of the challenges and carry out forward planning. This is not the year to be a passive grower.

“This is the year to help on orchard and actively find others to come and help. We have almost 3,000 growers, if they find two people each, we should have the numbers.” Predictions are for a shortfall of around 6,500 workers, largely because backpackers, who have traditionally accounted for around 25 percent of the labour force, aren’t in the country. Absenteeism due to Covid-19 could make the number higher. “In 2020, as an essential industry we were able to employ people who had lost their jobs in other sectors, but that workforce has now moved on. The 2022 harvest is likely to be the most challenging; one more hill to climb before the borders fully open. Hopefully by 2023 things will be back to normal.”

Zespri is forecasting yet another record crop, 190 million trays, compared to 177 million trays last season. The harvest began in late February with the first of an estimated 240,000 trays of Zespri RubyRed fruit harvested in Te Puke; a modest forerunner to the height of the harvest when 2 million trays of Zespri SunGold fruit will be picked each day. “That’s the mountain we have to climb.” The kiwifruit industry is a great New Zealand growth story and Colin says the problems it faces are a product of its own success.

Long-term confidence remains strong, with the significant new plantings of the last five years now coming into production, and continuing demand for licences to grow Zespri’s varieties. “Zespri has performed well during Covid-19, exporting record volumes of fruit to the world and demonstrating the strength of the single desk.” One of those strengths is the ability of Zespri to manage the supply chain, including securing vessels to take fruit to market, something smaller exporters have struggled with. NZKGI’s labour attraction programme was up and running early in the year, including the distribution of The little green and gold book: a guide to finding seasonal work in the New Zealand kiwifruit industry; as well as a Facebook page (which has around 10,000 followers) and this year the use of Instagram too to promote jobs. “We also have on-going relationships with the Ministry of Social Development and the Ministry for Primary Industries and other government departments to help get the message out there that work is available.” A five-point plan to reduce the peak demand for workers includes making sure growers don’t hold on to fruit when packhouses have capacity to pack, and going from single layer to bulk trays to speed up packing. Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme workers from Vanuatu, Tonga and Samoa make up about 10 percent of the workforce, but says Colin, they represent a highly-skilled and very productive part of the manpower. These seasonal workers are also in demand elsewhere and some who have been coming to New Zealand for five or more years have now gone to Australia. Employers are offering flexible working hours, sometimes help with transport and bonuses or other incentives for staff who work full weeks.

Absenteeism was more noticeable last harvest. “With increased pay rates, ($22.75 an hour in the packhouse) some people earned in a few days what they had in a week and took days off. Employers are offering incentives to get them to work every day, or saying, if you only want to work three days, tell us so we can arrange our shifts. Pickers on a piece rate earn $27 an hour and there are stronger rates for more highly skilled staff.” Measures used in the last two Covid-impacted harvests are in force again including worker ‘bubbles,’ using PPE (personal protective equipment), observing social distancing and strict hygiene standards. “The government has not mandated vaccines but we strongly encourage staff to be vaccinated and are doing everything we can to keep staff safe.” Colin took up his role with NZKGI in 2021, one year into the Covid-19 pandemic. “In a perverse sort of way it was a great time to start as I came into this industry to make a difference and NZKGI adds most value during a crisis, including bringing people together and engaging with government.”

Promoting employment in the kiwifruit industry as ‘Kiwi As’ is among NZKGI’s labour attraction strategies for the 2022 season

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