A shortage of workers has been declared in the Tasman area with orchards unable to find enough staff to harvest crops.

This follows the same declaration in Hawkes Bay a couple of weeks ago.

Horticulture New Zealand president Julian Raine told Mike Hosking it happens from time to time.

"You've got the fickled weather from time from time. Crops are early, crops are late, and maturity happens, and sometimes they all clash."

Raine says if they pay workers more, the price of fruit and veges will go up.

LISTEN TO JULIAN RAINE TALK WITH MIKE HOSKING ABOVE