Fruit Thinning

Apples & Pears

Seasons

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Apples & Pears

Fruit thinning starts in the orchards in Spring. Removing young and damaged fruit from a cluster allows the rest of the fruit to grow bigger and healthier.

What you’ll need to bring to the role

If you enjoy being outdoors, this could be a role for you. It involves repetitive hand movements, walking and you may be up and down a ladder. You need to be okay with climbing and heights and not allergic to bees.

What you’ll get out of it

Fruit thinning can lead onto harvesting roles. By working through this period, you can add this experience to your CV. You will earn no less then minimum wage with many employers offering the opportunity to earn more through contract/piece rates.

What are your training options?

Apply Now

View available jobs here:

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Harvest

Apples & Pears

Seasons

Open Calendar
Apples & Pears

Harvesting is the time when mature fruit is removed from trees. There are many roles available during harvest in fruit picking and packing.

What you’ll need to bring to the role

Picking involves selecting and placing ripe fruit into bags carried over your shoulders which means you need to have some adequate physical fitness. Sometimes you’ll be using picking platforms or hydra-ladders. There is plenty of walking and you may be up and down a ladder, so you need to be okay with climbing and heights.

Packing roles are indoors, based in the packhouses where the picked fruit is received, quality checked and packed ready to sell. You will be on your feet for long periods and need to have good concentration levels and good hand/eye coordination. 

What you’ll get out of it

Harvest work can provide a longer contract than other roles. You work independently but also as part of a team, so it’s a great way to meet people, build confidence and fitness. You will earn no less then minimum wage with many employers offering the opportunity to earn more through contract/piece rates.

What are your training options

Apply Now

View available jobs here:

Pick NZFind a Job

Pruning

Apples & Pears

Seasons

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Apples & Pears

With the harvest complete, trees are pruned ready for the next growing season. This is outdoor winter work, so you’ll need to rug up (at least until the sun appears and you warm up!).

What you’ll need to bring to the role

Pruning requires use of secateurs, loppers, and handsaws to remove branches that are old, rotten or don’t have many buds. You keep the best-looking spurs that will grow into large, juicy fruit. You may be up and down a ladder, so you need to be okay with climbing and heights. You will need an adequate level of physical fitness.

What you’ll get out of it

Pruning can lead onto a bud and fruit thinning role.By working through this period, you can add this experience to your CV. You will earn no less then minimum wage with many employers offering the opportunity to earn more through contract/piece rates.

What are your training options

Apply Now

View available jobs here:

Pick NZFind a Job

Bud Thinning

Apples & Pears

Seasons

Open Calendar
Apples & Pears

Bud thinning work starts in spring, working in the orchards. You’ll be removing some of the new buds either by hand or with secateurs to allow space for the rest of the blossoms to grow bigger and healthier.

What you’ll need to bring to the role

If you enjoy being outdoors, this could be a role for you. There is plenty of walking and you may be up and down a ladder, so you need to be okay with climbing and heights and not allergic to bees.

What you’ll get out of it

Bud and fruit thinning can lead onto harvest roles. By working through this period, you can add this experience to your CV. You will earn no less then minimum wage with many employers offering the opportunity to earn more through contract/piece rates.

What are your training options

Apply Now

View available jobs here:

Pick NZFind a Job

Apples & Pears

Locations

Nelson / Tasman

Nelson / Tasman is the second largest apple and pear growing region, producing 30% of New Zealand’s total crop. The first apples were planted here mid-1800s and flourish in the warm and sunny climate.

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View available jobs here:

Pick NZFind a Job

Locations

Work is in the orchards, where the fruit is grown, or in packhouses, where the fruit is received and packed ready to sell.

There are orchards in Hope and Brightwater (near Richmond), Motueka and surrounding areas. Packhouses are in Stoke, Richmond, Motueka, Riwaka, Lower Moutere, Mariri and Mapua.

Roles in Apples & Pears

Roles vary and include fruit growers, scientists, orchard and packhouse workers, food safety technicians, distribution and marketing experts and technology innovators. New Zealanders join the apple industry for rewarding careers from almost every background. Some come straight from school and work their way up through the orchard management and packhouse system. Others join us from university after studying science, horticulture, or commerce.

Learn more about the roles

Fruit Thinning

Fruit thinning starts in the orchards in Spring. Removing young and damaged fruit from a cluster allows the rest of the fruit to grow bigger and healthier.

Harvest

Harvesting is the time when mature fruit is removed from trees. There are many roles available during harvest in fruit picking and packing.

Pruning

With the harvest complete, trees are pruned ready for the next growing season. This is outdoor winter work, so you’ll need to rug up (at least until the sun appears and you warm up!).

Bud Thinning

Bud thinning work starts in spring, working in the orchards. You’ll be removing some of the new buds either by hand or with secateurs to allow space for the rest of the blossoms to grow bigger and healthier.

Plan Your Next Step

Come and see what our industry has to offer and plan an employment and training path.

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For Employers

If your work is coming to an end and you are interested in seasonal workforce redeployment please contact:

Top of the South Early Response Team: totsearlyresponse@msd.govt.nz