Fruit picking in Australia
Fruit picking is something very popular among the French, Germans, Koreans, Japanese, and Taiwanese because it is often the most backpacker-type people or those who speak English the worst who go fruit picking!
Most English speakers stay in big cities because it is easier for them to find work.
What is Fruit picking Australia?
It is the harvesting or picking of fruit; you can find fruit picking in all states of Australia! I did it in Tasmania, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, and Queensland. See my experience on NSW fruit picking
During my 4 months of fruit picking work, I had the opportunity to work on 5 main farms where I picked cherries, strawberries, pumpkins, garlic, grapes, and did weeding.
Work in Fruit picking Australia:
You should know that fruit picking is very hard and tiring. It often pays poorly and requires practice to get used to, but there is often a very good atmosphere within the team and we party all the time.
2 types of payment for your work.
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Payment by output:
If you are not fast, you will earn very little, but if you have experience, you can earn fortunes. Don’t get discouraged in the first days because it is often difficult to work quickly. For output work, you will often use ladders and pick apples, citrus fruits, etc.… The work is often paid per bin, for example, beginners do 2 bins while experienced workers do 7 in 7-8 hours at 30-35 dollars per bin!
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Payment by the hour:
If you want to work and have a fixed salary at the end and not hold back too much, hourly work is for you. You have a guaranteed salary but expect the bosses to ask you to work quickly at a minimum! Hourly wages are on average from 17 to 21 dollars.
Several types of work in Fruit picking Australia:
I will detail the main ones:
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Picking:
fruit picking, the work is mixed, paid hourly or by output.
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Sorting:
fruit sorting, mainly for girls, paid hourly.
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Packing:
fruit packing, mainly for girls, mostly paid hourly.
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Pruning:
thinning of trees or vines, mainly for men, paid hourly.
Work in Fruit picking Australia in a few points:
> The work is in difficult conditions (high temperature, bent back, at height, heavy products…)
> Check that you do not have allergies and be careful with the sun (wear a hat, cover yourself and/or put on sunscreen!)
> Most of the time workers work and sleep on farms or need accommodation (Caravan park, backpackers), you need a means of transportation to get to the farm!
> Working hours are often very long, more than 8 hours per day and work often starts very early at 7 a.m.
Ways to find work in Fruit picking Australia?
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Door to door
Most people who have a means of transportation arrive at the start of the season and go from farm to farm asking if there is work; this method is very popular among backpackers in Australia!
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Through an agency
This is a very good way to find fruit picking work but you often have to subscribe to the agency and pay money to get work on the farm (this is their commission).
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Through a backpacker hostel
Also very popular for people without transportation, many find work this way. You have to stay in the hostel and pay for transport. Be careful, there is not necessarily work, sometimes you have to wait several weeks and end up with a job you don’t like!
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A notice in a hotel or agency
Less frequent, keep your eyes open everywhere! During my stay in Cairns, we noticed a notice and found work for 1 month.
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Through contacts and friends
Keep contacts everywhere and ask around you!
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Through the harvest trail hotline.
I do not recommend it but you can manage to find something with it; better to be informed and do something than nothing.
Find other articles on: PVT Australia
And you, have you done Fruit picking? What do you think?
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