“The industry is worth about $10 billion at farm gate and while mechanisation of the industry is increasing, pruning and harvesting is still labour intensive,” she said.

In the Goulburn Valley and elsewhere, Middle Eastern migrants, from Iraq and Afghanistan, have made a significant contribution to the industry.  According to Craig Boyce, CEO of Integrity Fruit, a consortium of larger apple, pear and stonefruit growers, “Middle Eastern workers have distinguished themselves by their work ethic, ability to pick up and apply skills as well as their commitment to the industry.”

The sector will need to source more quality skilled workers to meet the growing demand for Australian horticulture products in Asia. In 2013/14 the industry exported $1.5 billion worth of product. Free Trade Agreements with Japan, South Korea and China auger well for an expanded export effort.

The horticulture industry currently employs more than 60,000 people across Australia and the forecast increase in production will require a growth in the number of full time and part time workers.

John Dollisson, CEO of Apple and Pear Australia Ltd, has identified the horticulture sector as very accommodating of new migrants and has provided the industry with a well-needed supply of pruning and harvesting skills. “Since the first wave of post-war migration, Italian, Greek and Turkish migrants have established themselves in the horticulture sector and are now major players and Vietnamese and Cambodian horticulturalists are now also prominent in the vegetable growing industry.”

 The Voice of Horticulture said it is actively engaging with major employers and growers across Australia and seeking meetings with politicians to ensure that the labour hire arrangements are both attractive and flexible.

The industry body, which represents horticultural growers and businesses across fruit, nuts, mushrooms, turf, nursery plants and cut flowers, has been discussing the need for increased flexibility in the minimum hours worked in relation to 417 (working holiday) visa workers as well as the possibility of a Green Card system to promote increased transparency and traceability of imported seasonal workers.

The horticulture industry is the third largest agriculture industry by value and the largest agriculture industry employer and therefore an important contributor to the economies of many growing regions.