AMS has launched www.fruitfuljobs.com, a website that will form the basis of a generic farm staff recruitment campaign.

The site is the culmination of two years work in conjunction with Writtle Agricultural College to enhance the service AMS provides to its growers. Part of this was a study of labour issues carried out by AMS's Emma Holyfield.

'The fruitful jobs website has been created to explain to anyone seeking summer work that there are jobs available on fruit farms in the UK,' said Holyfield. 'Not everyone wants to come to the UK and work in London.

'In just three months, we have attracted 55,000 page hits and approximately 30 applicants a day, many of whom have been successfully placed with AMS growers.

'The skill comes in marrying up applicants' availability dates with growers' requirements, as the two can often be difficult to match. Workers from as far afield as South Africa and Australia are already working on UK farms after being placed by fruitful jobs.

'The placements are not only for pickers and packers but also for field, packhouse and camp supervisors.'

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