Fruit growers have their fingers crossed the recent travel bubble arrangement will soon branch out to the Pacific Islands.

Jacinda Ardern announced yesterday quarantine free travel to Australia will begin from Monday April 19.

Hawkes Bay apple grower John Bostock told Heather Du Plessis-Allan doesn't see why RSE workers from Covid free countries couldn't come in too.

"The industry needs about 14,000, and that's across all industries and across l New Zealand, and the shortage of workers this was exasperated because the working holiday scheme wasn't really working."

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