Mandarin prices likely to rise as Australia’s largest growing region struck by labour shortage

The Picky Packers Hostel in North Burnett, Queensland, would normally have hundreds of backpackers wanting to stay for the citrus harvest, but this year it’s almost completely empty.

Owner Mark Postle said it was a worrying situation with the citrus industry worth more than $100 million to the region’s economy each year.

“This time last year we had a couple of hundred people on Facebook wanting to come for the citrus season, and this year we haven’t got any,” he said.

North Burnett is the biggest producer of…