Hand picking of grapes becomes redundant

Two major vineyards that herald in the handpicking season of sparkling wine grapes in the KIng Valley are picking by machine this year.

This is not a happy omen for the 50 odd local seasonal workers who service the King Valley vineyards during the harvest season. Usually the work is continuous til Easter from these two vineyards as the other grapegrowers time their harvest to follow on from the last vineyard being picked.

With the depression of the wine industry, many growers are expected to chose the less expensive machine harvesting. Where hand picking is carried out, the traditional bucket rate payment system could well suffer. It could be a few years before hand picking can be considered again.

This could lead to the end of a tradition and the loss of employment to many local people in the district.