Peak picking time in Central Otago largely coincides with summer holidays, meaning the combination of seasonal workers and holidaymakers in the region strains accommodation in the region, some fruitgrowers say.
But other growers believed the situation was in hand.
Otago Polytechnic Central Otago campus principal lecturer Alex Huffadine said fruit growers were returning to providing lodging for workers, a once common practice.
''It is problematic at the crunch time for seasonal workers, but not for full-time workers.
''Accommodation is an issue but growers are quickly getting on top of that.
''If you want to be in hort [horticulture] you have got to consider accommodation early on in the piece,'' Mr Huffadine said.
Webbs Family Orchard owner operator Simon Webb said that accommodation issues were probably localised to individual growers with different requirements.
''I know of people building accommodation at the moment. Individual growers may have problems, but it depends on which orchard or town you talk to.
''Some have got enough accommodation in place.''
Central Otago District Council economic development manager Warwick Hawker said the issue of accommodation would be investigated in its labour requirements survey.
Accommodation needs depended on different people, he said.
''Talk to various people and you get various answers.''
Council planning and environment manager Louise van der Voort said it was likely current district plan provisions would meet the needs of future numbers of seasonal workers.
But because the council was in the early stages of reviewing the plan, it welcomed any comment from horticulturists, she said.
At present, the district plan had specific rules relating to seasonal worker's accommodation.
Seasonal workers' accommodation for up to 60 people was a discretionary (restricted) activity.
