On November 17, Costa Berries Tasmania launched its local recruitment campaign for the 2021/22 harvest season. Costa Berries Tasmania General Manager Cameron Folder was joined by Guy Barnett, Minister for Primary Industries and Water, at the East Devonport Strawberry Farm. Mr. Folder said the aim of the campaign was to build upon the success of last summer’s season.
“Last season, we employed almost 500 locals in a variety of roles from picking, crop maintenance, pack shed work, and truck driving,” Mr. Folder said. “An important part of last season’s recruitment was the support the horticulture industry received from the Tasmanian and Australian Governments.”
Costa welcomes the continuation of these initiatives for the upcoming season, including the Tasmanian Government’s Tassie Harvest Jobs – Take Your Pick local worker campaign and the Australian Government’s AgMove program that supports potential workers to relocate to regional areas for the harvest season.
Mr. Folder said it was pleasing that many of the locals who started work with Costa last season have continued over the winter months in maintenance roles, preparing the crop for this season’s harvest.
Costa will also be increasing the number of Pacific Island Seasonal Workers it employs directly, rather than through labor providers, to complement the local workforce. With the loss of backpackers across Australia, there is an increased need to find alternative labor.
“Next week, Costa will be transferring 136 seasonal workers from our citrus operations in South Australia to work on local farms. The workers will be accommodated in Devonport and just as the local community embraced the seasonal workers last season, I am sure the people of Devonport will give them a warm welcome,” Mr. Folder said.
