A British fruit grower has moved part of his business to China after highlighting his fears over a possible shortage of workers post-Brexit.
Haygrove, one of the biggest growers of berries in the UK, has begun growing blueberries and raspberries in China’s southwestern Yunnan province.
The Herefordshire-based grower says the reason for the move was the uncertainty over migrant labour due to Brexit.
It follows new data showing that farming businesses experienced losses and were left with food rotting in fields after more than 4,300 vacancies went unfilled last year on fruit and vegetable farms.
Currently, 200 seasonal jobs have gone from Haygrove's Ledbury-site to China.
Founder of the growing business, Angus Davison told The Guardian: “In the UK we employ 230 full-time and 1,150 seasonal workers, but we are now reducing that to 950 because of Brexit nervousness.”
“We are already out of time,” he says, explaining that he can’t afford to wait for Theresa May to reveal her immigration policy as this year’s harvest was planned last year.
'Steep decline'
Mr Davison has written to Prime Minister Theresa May outlining his concerns over the UK's dwindling seasonal labour pool.
His letter read: “Unless a seasonal workers scheme is put in place, you must expect to see the steep decline of this significant rural employer and source of food.”
“It is appreciated that treating one industry differently to another is difficult; however agriculture, unlike construction and hospitality, can be exported. If enough people are not made available to do the work, the work can be taken to the people.”
Haygrove is reliant on seasonal migrant labour from eastern European countries. Mr Davison said the whole business could move to China if the situation gets worse.
The National Farmers' Union has also underlined the need for the re-introduction of a Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme to combat the labour shortfall.
The union is among 36 food and farming organisations who released a joint statement last weekend calling for the government to ensure ongoing access to an adequate supply of permanent and seasonal labour for food and farming businesses.
