After Brexit made the future access to migrant workers uncertain, some British fruit farmers are circumventing the problem by buying land in Europe to grow their fruit.
Under pressure from the falling pound and growing evidence that EU workers no longer wish to commit themselves to Britain, farmers are buying agricultural land in Poland and Holland.
Laurence Olins, of the trade association British Summer Fruits, said crops had gone to waste this year due to a 20 per cent shortfall in seasonal pickers, and the prospects for 2018 looked worse.
He added: ‘Farmers are buying land in Poland and Holland and more will do so as time goes on. If we can’t get the labour here, British companies will go there.
'It will mean Britain will be importing more fruit from abroad.’ He warned that by next summer, ‘you could have Wimbledon strawberries grown by a British company in Holland’ – and costing up to 50 per cent more.
Fruit farmers are calling for special work permits of six to nine months for seasonal staff.
Source: dailymail.co.uk
