Photo: summerfruitnz.co.nz
Time is running out to prevent hundreds of millions of dollars of export fruit rotting this summer.
The horticulture and viticulture sector has been crying out for workers, and campaigns to attract New Zealanders to work in orchards and vineyards are not yielding enough pickers.
Summerfruit New Zealand CEO Richard Palmer says it might be too late for the industry to avert huge revenue losses and wasted fruit. He estimates 20 percent of crops could go unpicked.
Central Otago's James Dicey from Grape Vision says he is feeling the loss of RSE workers.
