CERAVOLO Orchards quality assurance manager Joyce Ceravolo said the impact of the backpacker tax reduction was a “wait and see” proposition for their business.
“It’s hard to know the impact of the tax reduction until we see the affect it has on people wanting to come and work here, because New Zealand still has a much more attractive tax rate for backpackers,” she said.
The business grow, pick, pack and process cherries, apples and pears at their Ashton orchard and facility, employing 50 to 80 backpackers – 80 per cent of the workforce – during their picking season.
“I don’t think we’ll know the full extent of the damage caused by the proposal until our harvest season starts and we see whether we have options for seasonal workers or not,” Ms Ceravolo said.
