72 | Labour shortage hits apple harvest T Russell Fredric The 5000 square metre packing shed incorporates advanced New Zealand and Dutch pip fruit sorting and packing technology. PRODUCTION CAJ van der Voort Large-scale Central Otago pip fruit orchardist and processor CAJ van der Voort is preparing for another busy harvest season in the face of the covid-induced labour shortage. Post harvest manager Jackie van der Voort says the 2022 processing season will start in the third week of February and run until late June/early July. This season’s harvest will start earlier due to a 100 hectare orchard in Earnscleugh coming on stream. CAJ processes exclusively apples for export, employing a total of 390 staff during the peak season. “We grow and pack about 85% of Otago’s crop,” Jackie says. It has a 5000 square metre packing shed which incorporates advanced New Zealand and Dutch pip fruit sorting and packing technology. This was installed in 2019 to handle a significant increase in volume and to create efficiencies designed to increase productivity without loss of staff, while also making the work more appealing to all aspects of the workforce. “The development means we can work smarter which in turn is giving a better work life balance, now working Monday to Friday, eight to five pm.” The 14 lane system can produce about 2500 cartons an hour, The apples are exported to up to 50 countries with a large part of the harvest going to North America, Asia, United Kingdom and Europe. While Jackie stops short of calling the labour shortage a crisis, the impact has been massive not only due to the shortage, but also because of the increased costs created. “Last year our cost of thinning the apple crop was 2.7 times more than normal.” Because the company could not source highly experienced RSE (Recognised Seasonal Employer) workers from overseas, inexperienced people who were not as productive had to be employed. “We employed 300 people to thin our crop, normally we would require approximately 140.” “We have a real challenge in the post-harvest period where normally about 65% of our staff would be backpackers and the balance made up of New Zealanders.” “We have a real challenge in the post-harvest period where normally about 65% of our staff would be backpackers and the balance made up of New Zealanders. The back packers aren’t here are we don’t have enough people in or coming in to the regions to fill the gaps. “Last year we had an average shortfall of over 30% with up to 45% at the peak.” Exacerbating the problem, the staff could only work four days a week due to a shortage of shipping containers. Jackie, who is an NZ Apples & Pears director, says it is of concern how difficult it is becoming to attract and retain managers and experienced horticulture workers. “There’s been a huge amount of work done by the industry body, New Zealand Apples and Pears around training, cadetships, college education programmes, Massey University, there’s a lot of initiatives being put in place. “The challenge we have is that young people aren’t aware of the different aspects of horticulture. “It’s often the view that hort work consists of pruning trees in a cold climate and harvesting the crop with a heavy harvesting bag, climbing ladders.” However, horticulture is a multifaceted industry which offers many opportunities that relate to technology, science, research and development, marketing, sales and exporting, she says. “There’s a lot of technology in our industry that the young people are unaware of; they don’t associate the primary sector having all these others aspects to it.” Her father, Con van der Voort has always had a vision for growing quality fruit and being productive, she says. “He’s created a large business that is well supported by local communities which creates a work opportunities for people in the Teviot Valley and the wider region.” Proud to support CAJ Van Der Voort 220 Fryatt St, Dunedin 9013, New Zealand Mob: 021 968 028 Email: jeffrey.mcdonald@tandg.global www.tandg.global www.transworldroxburgh.nz Proudly supporting CAJ Van Der Voort • Plastic Fabrication • Extruder Welding • Irrigation & Frost Control • Design, Supply & Installation Proud to be associated with CAJ van der Voort 4 Hawick Street, Roxburgh Ph: 03 446 8511 Email: ccplastics@xtra.co.nz COAL CREEK PLASTICS LTD
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