Some workers new to cherry packing and picking are struggling to keep up with the demands of working long hours, leading to staff shortages at the height of the harvest.
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BiteRiot Operations co-owner Fiona Hall said they were urgently seeking about 20 workers, mainly for packing work.
She said some university and school students and other workers, who were covering for overseas backpackers who cannot be present this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, were struggling with the minimum 12-hour days.
These guys work long hours.
- Fiona Hall, BiteRiot
"We have 11 no-shows every day," she said.
"They don't turn up the next day. The turnover is huge."
Mrs Hall said there were other farmers in the Orange region who were also seeking more pickers.
"These guys work long hours," she said.
She said they had put a call-out for workers for an 'immediate start' on social media.
"It's tough, it's really tough," she said.
"The next few weeks are our busiest work."
She said while many workers were involved in the cherry grading processes, some school students had been employed making boxes for the cherries.
The harvest staff shortages come as the company has nearly completed a $2 million upgrade of the packing and cherry grading facilities at the Canobolas Road site.
"We've got the roof up, the walls up, the machinery's in. We just have to do the doors and windows," she said.
Mrs Hall said the work would increase the company's capacity to process fruit by about 50 per cent.
This year's harvest is looking strong following drought conditions easing compared to last year.
Mrs Hall said recent rains followed by wind had helped the cherries develop.
She said adult packers (20 years and over) were paid $24.80 an hour.
Teenagers are paid a percentage of that rate depending on their age.
People seeking work can apply on BiteRiot's social media sites, including Facebook, or in person at the shed.
Apart from domestic markets cherries from the region have been exported to countries including China and Vietnam this year. South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore are also set to receive cherries from the region.
Federal Member for Calare Andrew Gee said last week the first flight, carrying more than 1000 kilograms of Central West cherries, went to Vietnam.
"Our local cherry growers are expecting a bumper season and we want to make sure they can continue to get their high-quality product out into the global market," he said.
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