08 September 2026,
Fruit Growers Victoria is backing calls for greater certainty around visa processing as Victoria’s horticulture industry prepares for the upcoming harvest season.
With cherry and stonefruit harvests fast approaching, followed by apples and pears, access to a reliable seasonal workforce is critical for Victorian fruit growers.
Unlike many industries, horticulture cannot simply delay production when workers are unavailable. Fruit must be picked when it reaches maturity, often within a relatively narrow window, and delays can quickly result in reduced quality,
lost produce and significant financial impacts for growers.
FGV Grower Services Manager and VFF Horticulture President Michael Crisera said uncertainty around worker availability was particularly concerning as growers moved closer to harvest.
“In horticulture, timing is everything. When fruit and vegetables are ready, they need to be picked. You cannot put a crop on hold while you wait for workers to arrive.
“A shortage of workers at the wrong time can mean produce is left in the field, quality is lost and growers lose income. We need confidence that the workforce will be available when the crop is ready,” Mr Crisera said.
FGV Chairman Mitchell McNab said growers needed certainty now so they could plan confidently for the season ahead.
“Our growers invest all year to produce a quality crop and when harvest arrives, having the right workforce available is essential. Growers need confidence that the workers they are relying on will be able to get here when they are needed.
“This is not only an issue for individual growers. Horticulture supports packing sheds, transport businesses, local jobs and communities right across our growing regions. If fruit cannot be harvested at the right time, the impact flows well beyond the farm gate.
“We need government to recognise the unique workforce requirements of horticulture and ensure visa processing does not become another unnecessary challenge for growers heading into harvest,” Mr McNab said.
Fruit growers make significant investments throughout the year to produce a quality crop, and workforce planning is an important part of preparing for harvest. Delays and uncertainty around visa processing make that planning increasingly difficult.
FGV supports the Victorian Farmers Federation’s call for the Federal Government to recognise the specific seasonal workforce needs of agriculture and ensure growers have access to the workers they need when their crops are ready.
With the Victorian fruit season almost upon us, certainty is needed now!!!!
ENDS
Media contact:
Fruit Growers Victoria,
Mitchell McNab, Chairman 0427 168 901
Michael Crisera, Growers Services Manager 0427 239 871
PDF: Media Release - VISA delays a concern for Victorian fruit growers as harvest approaches