Kiwifruit disease wiping out jobs

The Kiwifruit vine disease Psa is still costing dozens of Bay of Plenty people their jobs every month.

Harvesting comes to a close in the next fortnight and officials are pleased with the numbers.

22 million trays of the Psa affected gold variety will be shipped overseas.

Kiwifruit Growers president Neil Trebilco says every month, up to 120 workers have to be laid off.

He says the industry has hired an employment coordinator to stem that loss.

"So we're trying to match people who have lost their jobs... with jobs that are still available within the industry.

"From people who have been working on orchards through to people who have been perhaps been working for associated industries as well."

He says for many, the struggle will really begin in the next fortnight.

"Growers who harvested last year and that's most kiwifruit growers, they will be getting their last payments for last year's crops this month and so the crunch comes soon when there will be no more payments for those crops."

Mr Trebilco says things will be tough for at least the next two years for gold variety growers around the region.