Local youth have been invited via Snapchat and TikTok to apply for cherry-picking jobs this summer.

Kahu Youth Trust, The Upper Clutha GSD Collective and CentralPac orchard in Cromwell are working together on an initiative that will see 100 young people in the Upper Clutha into employment.

As well as providing employment opportunities, the initiative aims to help orchards combat the global pandemic and shortfall in seasonal workers this coming summer.

Sarah Millwater, the driving force behind this project, which started before the government announced they would be opening borders to some seasonal workers, said: “Businesses in the area are in real danger of losing a significant part of their harvest this season and so, with a lack of seasonal workers from overseas due to COVID-19 restrictions, we quickly jumped on an initiative to get something done.”

Young people will be offered three or four days work a week at CentralPac, a cherry orchard near Cromwell who have agreed to offer training, good working conditions and pay ($18.90 plus holiday pay per hour, with the chance to earn more by picking more).

A PledgeMe page has been set up to help provide support for this project, specifically for help with transport and supervision of the kids. 

“We were mindful about not only supporting the orchard but also a locally owned bus company that is also missing out on revenue due to COVID-19,” said Millwater. 

Millwater hoped the project would be the pilot for a wider scheme which, in future seasons, could connect youth with more growers in the region or encourage young people to go into the industry.

Read edition 1003 of the Wānaka Sun here.

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