Fruit Picking / Backpacking in Europe, Canada, OZ and NZ ??

Looking for first hand information on this:





It has just been suggested by a friend that we get away for a couple of months this year and go fruit picking / backpacking.





I know you can do this all year round in OZ and NZ, and that Canada has a long fruit picking season (ending around August); also France, Spain and Italy do this too.





But has anybody actually done this; does it pay; whats the work like?





The way i hear it is you get free accommodation, food, use of the facilities and either a daily rate or paid by the Kg. In return you work shifts in the fields / orchards picking fruit.





If you want to move on you can have the owner call ahead to other locations, and pre arrange work.





Some of the online guides are saying earning rates of £30-£60 per day; can this be right.





Looking for anybody thats actually dont this - Not second hand info.





.

Fruit Picking / Backpacking in Europe, Canada, OZ and NZ ??
I don't have first hand knowledge, but I live in cetral Europe and I know people who do and have done this so I can tell you what I know from this.





In Europe, fruit pickers tend to go from east to west, meaning from poorer countries to richer ones, usually not for travel but to make money. Accomodation is not ideal, and unless you have your own car, travelling around is a bit difficult, on top of which if you don't know the native language- or even if you do- you should expect people to scam you.





From what I've heard NZ, you can pick fruit and live ok there. The money you make pays for your living expenses but not the extra stuff (this seems to be true most places). Remember that this is work people in that country generally don't want to do, so it's not highly paid.





In the end, if you pick fruit, choose a place where everyday you go there, it amazes you. If you are bored after a week, then you've chosen the wrong place.
Reply:If you are of Asian appearance then the immigration authorities will get suspicious and assume you are an illegal immigrant and round you up and deport you.
Reply:Fruit picking is shite. Takes all day, its knackering and you see bugger all of the country. Save your money and go on holiday.