Fruit picking and packing is a popular job for backpackers. The farms are looking for seasonal workers. So it’s ideal for people who want to travel and earn a bit of money while doing so.
It’s important to consider the harvest times. You can have a look at the free backpacker magazines or check the website Here you will find all the information you need. You can also download the “National Harvest Guide” or pick up a printed version from a tourist information centre.
Before starting a fruit picking job, you need to be aware that it is exhausting work. Your day starts when the sun rises at 5 or 6 o’clock in the morning and you can work up to 13 hours a day. It’s very hot and exhausting. However, you can earn lots of money in a few weeks which you can use to travel!
At this point we want to give you some tips: Take a lot of water with you! You will work the whole day in the sun and you will need to drink a lot (for 8 hours of work you will need at least 2 litres!). Furthermore, you should always wear sunscreen and a hat. It also makes sense to wear sturdy shoes because you will encounter many small animals… So, hope you are not afraid of spiders or snakes! Depending on which fruits or vegetables you are harvesting it could be a good idea to wear long-sleeved shirts and long trousers because otherwise you would scratch your arms and legs.
Deciding whether to work doing fruit picking is entirely your decision. Of course there are better things to do than getting up early in the morning, working hard the whole day and falling asleep in the evening totally exhausted, and getting up early the next morning to do it all over again.
It’s an experience that you will probably tell your children about it one day and can earn you good money. It will all be worth it afterwards, as you can spend the money on your journey.
