Michael Rogers, Chief executive of the Australian Fresh Produce Alliance, joins Michael regarding the horticulture industry raising the alarm that fruit & vegetable prices could see a rise of up to 60 per cent due to the coronavirus pandemic.

With around 127,900 jobs at risk, the Australian Fresh Produce Alliance fears that without a backpacker labour force, fruit and vegetables would be left to wither and rot, so it’s asking for the number of harvest workers coming to Australia via the Seasonal Worker Program and Pacific Labour Scheme increased from 12,000 to 15,000 per year.

“Australian farmers need to continue to secure a workforce to harvest fruit and vegetables for Australian families. And we have a current and very real challenge that we will have a shortage of workers,” says Mr Rogers.

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