THE drive to get more people picking strawberries is coming to a crunch, with harvest peak just around the corner.
Queensland Strawberry Growers Association's (QSGA) $100,000 labour lottery initiative has seen more than 4100 people sign up to work on farms since launching in April, with a surge of 1500 new applicants in just the past month.
The novel program is the industry's inventive way of incentivising workers as COVID-19 continues to cripple the nation's horticultural workforce.
However, the state is still more than 1000 workers short with the unfolding Delta strain situation is preventing would-be workers from travelling interstate just before the peak August-September season.
QSGA president Adrian Schultz said that the success of the lottery campaign has provided farmers with just enough labour to get through the month of June.
"We have managed to attract enough staff for the beginning of the season, but now we're going into the peak time of the season where we have a lot of production on.
"The second part of the launch has been positive so far, but movement is constantly being restricted which isn't easy to deal with.
Queensland produces about 42pc of Australia's annual strawberry crop which had a farmgate value of $435 million in 2020.
Mr Schultz said that weather conditions and COVID uncertainty are also adding to the strain.
"It's been a really cold June so production has been down, on top of the shut down of Sydney and Melbourne is really affecting the opportunity to sell strawberries to restaurants and cafes in the southern states."
Mr Schultz said more than ever before, farmers are needing to rely on Queenslanders to get through the season.
"We're getting more Queenslanders than we thought we would, it's been a real strong home support for the $100,000 campaign," he said.
Laura Wells from TSL Family Farms, Bellmere, said the program has brought the farm's workforce just under capacity, something they never expected.
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"We essentially have a full workforce now and we never saw that coming," Ms Wells said.
"We have been getting a real big influx of people, it was great incentive to come on farm, and even better for our regulars as the program encourages loyalty to the farm which is what really makes the difference.
"We planted 100 per cent of our capacity and we're hopeful to get it all picked, the incentive has been a real success and it's something we're even looking at doing as an independent business."
Ms Wells said that through the campaign locals are seeing farm work as more of an option.
"We have more people enquiring from Queensland than ever before, and we're definitely seeing more locals turning their heads and looking at working on the farm," she said.
First of its kind campaign
QSGA marketing manager Jane Richter said the first of its kind cash promotion is about getting people to open their eyes to how accessible and lucrative farm work can be.
Ms Richter said most people don't realise that the amount of farm work and opportunity near Queensland's most populous region, Brisbane.
"It really surprises people to find out that there is more than 15 strawberry farms, all within an hours drive of Brisbane's CBD," Ms Richter said.
"The promotion really aims to attract all kinds of workers to come and give farm work a go, with a view to staying at a single strawberry farm for the entire winter season.
"The more weeks that a worker completes, the more promotional entry points they can earn."
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