More apple pickers needed!

One of the country's biggest apple grower and marketers, T&G Global, is recruiting additional labourers to meet any staffing challenges caused by Covid and the Omicron variant.

With a high-quality crop due to be harvested, T&G is doing its best to proactively manage this season's challenges and uncertainties, says director of operations Craig Betty.

"Without a doubt it's going to be a tough season given New Zealand's tight labour market, the absence of working holiday visa workers, continuing global supply chain challenges, and the ongoing impact of Covid-19 across the country and globe," he says.

"For the last two years we've worked with Covid-19, prioritising the safety and wellbeing of our people, growers and communities - while at the same time keeping fresh produce flowing to customers and consumers."

Betty says the company is under no illusion as to how difficult the year will be.

"Across the country, we're recruiting extensively to bring in much needed additional team members to help minimise the challenges which may come our way."

T&G Global and its growers are planning to pick more than 6.5 million tray carton equivalents (TCEs) this year - the equivalent of 120 million kilograms of apples.

Betty says the quality is looking good across all varieties this season, with fruit generally sizing well.

"For our premium JAZZ and Envy brands, we're seeing good quality and fruit size better than 2021," says Betty.

"With hot and humid weather for early harvest in the Hawke's Bay, striking the right conditions to develop good foreground colour has been challenging, but the recent change of weather should see this improve.

"In the South Island, we've seen higher than usual rainfall in spring, followed by warm summer temperatures which should see a full crop and improved sizing on 2021."

T&G's early-season apple, branded Poppi, is the company's first variety to be harvested in February, followed by Royal Gala, JAZZ and Envy over the coming months. Thanks to its early ripening qualities, Poppi is one of the first New Zealand apple brands of the season to arrive in the highly competitive Asian markets.

In December T&G Global announced significant investment in its apple operations, including $100 million for a new state of the art packhouse. The packhouse, which is adjacent to T&G's current Whakatu East sitein the Hawke's Bay, will be one of the largest in the southern hemisphere and will house world-leading automation technology.