Fruit and veg could become more expensive due to Brexit

Fruit and vegetables could become more expensive in the UK if foreign seasonal workers, who pick British produce, are barred from the country post-Brexit.

Big producers from the UK have urged the government to deal the potential employment deficit for the food-supply chain by setting up a scheme for seasonal workers.

The Guardian reported that about 90% of fruit and vegetables are picked and packed by between 60,000 to 70,000 workers from abroad, mainly from Europe.

Producers said that if employment prospects for seasonal workers is not protected production could move abroad where there are large operations already active. Reportedly, seasonal workers are already deterred from coming to the UK because of Brexit

Over 98% of the previous seasonal workers scheme, which ran between 1948 to 2013 before Theresa May scrapped it as home secretary, returned home after coming to the UK to work.

Brexit has created economic uncertainty for businesses and no more so than for the Britain’s food industry, they claimed..

Food is the biggest sector of engagement for Europe with hundreds of contracts woven into supply chains. Post-Brexit, the UK will have to renegotiate these contracts as the country imports over 40% of its food and over a quarter from the EU.

In 2015 the UK imported £38.5bn worth of food and drink and in comparison it exported homegrown food and drink worth only £18bn.

Farming employs 3.9m people in the UK and grows raw ingredients for the food and drink industry, which is worth about £108bn.

The National Farmers Union (NFU) is currently undertaking a consultation with farmers in order to help shape domestic farm policy post-Brexit.

NFU president Meurig Raymond said: “There is a clear need for agriculture and horticulture to show unity. When our consultation with our members is complete we will then be in a position to work alongside other organisations with shared goals and vision to ensure that British agriculture has a profitable and productive future outside of the EU and that the industry capitalises on those new opportunities.”

The UK will also have rework farm insurance, subsidy payments and environmental stewardship programs after Brexit.