A shortfall of migrant labour could spell “disaster” for the UK soft-fruit sector this season. A portion of the crop could be left unpicked in the field.
The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) this week urged the government to increase the number of work permits offered to seasonal workers to take the pressure off UK growers.
“There is a serious problem with the availability of workers for this years’ harvest,” said the NFU. “There is potential for some crops to remain unharvested, although businesses will do everything they can to draft in the necessary labour to prevent crops being left in the ground.”
An NFU survey of 13 soft-fruit and vegetable growers showed the businesses were 2,400 workers short of the estimated 4,400 needed to harvest the 2007 crop.
Richard Hirst, chairman of the NFU’s Horticulture Board, said the number of workers from Poland the Czech Republic had slumped this year due to higher standards of living there.
“It’s not only a disaster for the businesses concerned but also for the UK market. We are trying to get people to increase market share, which is coming under threat when we can’t get people to harvest the crops,” he added.
Laurence Olins, chairman of British Summer Fruits, said that, anecdotally, most growers are having difficulties finding the labour they need, but the situation would have been more serious if the April weather had continued.
But he warned the situation could deteriorate in July and August.
He told freshinfo: “The possible closure of the SAWS scheme is a bigger threat to the industry than planning permission and polytunnels.
“The industry is asking the Home Office to allow the SAWS scheme to continue for another two to three years.
“The use of harvesting rigs and table tops will reduce labour requirements by making the harvest more efficient, but we need time to implement this.”
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