- by cnn
- 25 Apr 2024
A microcosm of Australiansâ reluctance to work on farms can be seen in Victoriaâs Yarra valley.
CEO of a group of strawberry farms, Miffy Gilbert, struggled to source labour for the current harvest, while her teenage son works as a shelf-stacker at a supermarket.
Australians arenât lazy, according to Gilbert, weâre simply spoilt for choice in a situation mirrored in most developed countries.
âAustralians are harder to get, because weâre lucky to have a lot of options in front of us as to what we do for employment,â says Gilbert.
âWhen I grew up there was not a cafe or three on every corner like there is now.â
Gilbert is also CEO of AusBerry Farmers, a collaborative farming effort between seven families in the Yarra valley.
âIf I said to him, âIâve got seven farms, where do you want to work?â Thereâs no way. Itâs similar money to stacking the fruit and veg shelves in air-conditioned comfort versus sitting in a damp field for half a day.â
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