Wages for strawberry pickers in Georgia have risen this season, with industry figures citing an average of 60–70 GEL for an eight-hour workday.
Representatives of the sector say there is no broad labour shortage, but farms still face pressure from lower fruit quality and difficult weather during parts of the growing cycle. Higher day rates reflect both competition for reliable hands at peak harvest and the slower pace when berries are smaller or damaged.
What growers are reporting
Strawberry production in Georgia is concentrated in regions with suitable soil and early-spring warmth, with farms supplying local markets, supermarkets and some export channels. Picking is labour-intensive: workers move row by row, selecting ripe fruit by hand and filling crates for collection and grading.
Industry spokespeople quoted in recent coverage said pay has moved up compared with previous seasons even though enough workers are available when farms coordinate transport and same-day hiring. The increase is linked partly to farms offering more to retain experienced pickers when quality is uneven and hourly output falls.
Lower fruit quality can stem from heavy rain, hail or sharp temperature swings during flowering and ripening. Damaged or undersized berries take longer to harvest per kilogram and may fetch lower prices downstream, squeezing margins while labour costs per box rise.
Wages in context
At 60–70 GEL for eight hours, gross daily pay sits above Georgia’s monthly minimum wage when extrapolated across full working weeks, though seasonal farm work is typically temporary and weather-dependent. Many pickers are local residents or workers from nearby towns; some farms also rely on short-term migrants from other regions when harvest peaks overlap.
Farmers often pay per day rather than per kilogram when quality varies, to keep teams on site through a difficult week. Others use piece rates in good seasons when pickers can fill crates quickly. The mix varies by farm size and buyer contracts.
For rural households, strawberry season provides a few weeks of cash income in late spring and early summer before other crops mature. Higher day rates may draw students and part-time workers, but transport to fields and accommodation near larger plantations still shape who can take the jobs.
Outlook for the season
Officials and growers have not published a single national wage table; figures quoted in trade discussions are averages across several producing areas. Final costs to consumers depend on yields, fuel, packaging and retail mark-ups, not pickers’ pay alone.
If weather stabilises in remaining harvest weeks, quality and picking speed may improve, easing unit labour costs even if headline day rates stay elevated. Farms watching export windows will balance wage bills against prices offered by buyers in Georgia and abroad.
Workers considering seasonal jobs should confirm hours, transport, lunch arrangements and whether pay is daily or piece-based before starting. Contracts and on-site safety rules vary by employer, as with other agricultural hiring in Georgia.
