More than 3000 people will be involved this year in getting Central Otago cherries off the trees and into the marketplace.
Their employment adds to the $100 million a year the horticulture industry contributes to the local economy.
"The horticulture industry would have to be one of the biggest employers in the district, if not the province.
It brings a huge number of people into the community," Seasonal Solutions manager Craig Howard said this week.
Mr Howard said the seasonal work co-operative had recently completed a survey of summerfruit growers in Central Otago.
"That survey showed it takes 3000 people to pick, pack and ship the cherry crop out of Central Otago. It's a big industry."
He estimated a further 1000 workers would be employed later in the season on vineyards in the district.
Seasonal Solutions was set up in 2004 to address problems finding seasonal labour to deal with summerfruit, pipfruit and grape harvests in Central Otago and the Queenstown Lakes district.
Central Otago District Council business development manager Jonathan Gadd said primary industry - horticulture, agriculture and viticulture - was still the cornerstone of the district's economy.
The horticulture industry, which included summerfruit and pipfruit, was worth about $100 million a year to the Central Otago economy, he said.
"Definitely, cherries are the main contributor to that, but apples, apricots and [grapes] also play a part."
Mr Gadd also noted that while a few orchards were owned by corporations, most were locally owned.
"So most of the money made here stays here."
Mr Howard said some of the district's residents would be surprised to hear the industry employed so many people.
"That figure, 3000, is an extraordinary number and probably a bit scary when you look at the size of the towns in the area and think of the extra people they have to service and accommodate."
Of the 3000, 600 to 800 were permanent rather than seasonal positions.
