It's slim pickings when it comes to labour for the kiwifruit harvest despite growers offering what they believe is top dollar for workers, along with other incentives.
The industry usually needs about 24,000 workers to pick and pack but its short by around 6,000.
The big Covid isolation and a lack of international backpackers on work visas has added to the problem.
James Trevelyan has a packhouse in Te Puke. He talks to Lisa Owen.
