The apple harvest begins this month (February) and a tight labour market combined with low backpacker numbers prompted one business to take the innovative step to set up a recruitment stand in the Richmond Mall to find staff.
Heartland Fruit NZ packs and markets Luv’ya apples in Richmond for a number of growers and employs up to 150 staff, with its busiest period between the start of harvest in mid-February through to July.
Operations manager Daniel Manson says it has been a tough couple of years finding staff due to Covid-19, especially last year when overseas backpackers with Working Holiday Visas (WHV) were shut out of New Zealand. It left them short of staff through the season and the packing operation on Beach Road had to reduce three production lines down to two.
He says the business still achieved its goals for export and local markets, but it was challenging for all areas of the business.
Though the borders are open again, he says the number of backpackers seeking work for the coming season is still low.
“We aim to hire as many local workers as possible, but there is never enough for all the jobs available and so we fill the gap with backpacker workers.”
The company tries to attract seasonal workers including backpackers from cherry packhouses in Central Otago as the cherry season finishes before the apple harvest begins. But this year the cherry season is running later due to weather and it will be too late to get those workers for the beginning of the apple harvest in Tasman.
Few backpackers prompted the ompany to take the initiative and set up a recruitment stand in the Richmond Mall where it could reach a large number of people.
“We needed a more public display to say ‘we need you’. We’re also trying to show people it is more than a seasonal job and can lead to a rewarding career.”
He says the promotion has had some success attracting more staff with some job seekers receiving contracts for the pending packing season.
The overall result will be hard to judge though as many people picked up application forms or pamphlets for family and friends which may lead to job applications.
Different staff members fronted the pop-up recruitment stand and Daniel says it was an opportunity for them to talk to the public about the jobs on offer, which was key to its success.
Out at Hoddy’s Orchard in Hope where staff are needed for harvest as well as the packhouse, general manager Jos Bell says the WHV workers are starting to come back, but nowhere near the numbers seen pre-Covid-19.
Fortunately, more Kiwis are seeking seasonal work which is resulting in more applicants from a broader pool of people.
“The feeling is that people are a bit more willing to get out and do something post Covid.
“We’re feeling reasonably confident and doing a lot of work to find people,” Jos says.
“But it will be a relief when we cross the start line with the right number of people.”
Jos says the apple crop is looking “really, really good” this season for quality as well as quantity which is a good start.
“The flip side is we have certainly struggled over the last two years to pick and pack the crop and also the logistics to get it to market. This year we’re feeling a bit more positive in staff and shipping, but there are still a lot of unknowns.”
By Anne Hardie
