Three times as many workers have registered for summer horticulture work in Central Otago in the pre-harvest period to December compared with the corresponding time last year.
However, a slow start to the season means there will be no work for most until later this month.
Seasonal Solutions Co-operative, an employment agency for orchards and vineyards in the region, reported 503 people signing up for work in October, compared with 146 in the corresponding period last year.
November numbers were not finalised, but were expected to be more than 600, compared with 214 last November.
People have been advised to return in about two weeks when the cherry harvest is expected to start in earnest.
Seasonal Solutions chief executive Greg Watson said the summer fruit season had started slowly due to frosts.
There was also less pre-picking work than usual, and what work there was had been filled by moving Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers from Pacific Islands, around members' properties.
Despite that, the number of people seeking work had been ''quite phenomenal'', he said.
''[It's] good news for employers.''
Summerfruit New Zealand chairman and Teviot Valley orchardist Gary Bennetts said a reliable workforce was crucial for the industry's development.
There was an ''immense'' demand for casual workers in the valley, but at the moment, there seemed to be enough staff.
Mr Watson said the numbers of people looking for work were good for the sector.
''I think it is significant and positive for the industry because if the labour is there it gives the employers confidence to do things like new plantings and development.''
An example of expansion targeted in the region was a goal of producing 3000 tonnes of export cherries a year, he said.
In order to achieve that, an extra 1000 workers above numbers already working in the area each summer were needed.
Mr Bennetts said the region had enough trees to produce 3000 tonnes of fruit, but a combination of good weather and enough workers was needed.
Mr Watson could not speculate on the total number of cherry or horticulture workers in general in Central Otago during the harvest season.
However, Mr Bennetts thought it could be about 7000.
Mr Watson said factors contributing to Seasonal Solutions' high number of registrations included its new website, which had been running for about a year, that had meant an ''incredible increase'' in traffic.
He also believed the 2011 Canterbury earthquakes had an impact on the number of backpackers flying into Christchurch and visiting Central Otago.
''I don't have any facts on that but a strong idea.
''They seem to be coming back into the region.''
A small increase in the number of New Zealanders registering with the co-operative had also been experienced this year.
Seasonal Solutions did not account for all people seeking work or working in the region, and had a job placement rate of between 45% and 65%.
It placed 650 backpackers in jobs last summer, and 155 New Zealanders in jobs.
Between November 2013 and April 2014 it placed about 400 RSE workers in jobs.
Mr Watson said there were four other small, private RSE employers in Central Otago.
