The price of strawberries could increase by a third after Brexit if farmers cannot have access to EU workers.
Farmers have warned that not having access to EU workers after Brexit will cripple the industry and have called for a permit scheme for seasonal EU workers to make sure the expansion of soft fruit production in Britain is not further harmed.
Industry trade body British Summer Fruits released a report highlighting the dangers of Brexit and what will happen if producers are forced to move operations from the UK to access labour.
According to the report, the price of a punnet of 400g strawberries will increase by 37 percent to £2.75. Similarly, the cost of raspberries will increase by 50 percent to £3.
With the soft fruit industry growing at a rapid pace, farmers say that access to EU workers is vital. Over nine out of 10 seasonal pickers of British soft fruit are from the European Union, mainly from Poland and Romania.
“This is as extreme as it gets. If we do not have the pickers, we do not have a soft fruit industry,” said Laurence Olins, chairman of British Summer Fruits.
“It is inconceivable that people who voted to leave the European Union wanted to destroy an iconic and incredibly competitive British horticulture industry. And there is no letup in the demand. Sales continue to increase year on year.”
“But if we cannot ensure access to the seasonal workers needed to produce soft fruit in Britain, that will be an unintended consequence of Brexit – along with soaring prices and increased reliance on imports.”
A government spokesperson said: “The government places great value on the UK’s food and farming industries, both as a crucial component of the UK economy and of the fabric of rural Britain.”
“We are determined to get the best deal for the UK in our negotiations to leave the EU, not least for our world-leading food and farming industry, which is a key part of our nation’s economic success.”
Former Secretary of state for the environment, food and rural affairs suggested farmers replace workers with machinery to boost productivity. But farmers say that the needed technology requires heavy investment and won’t be a solution in the short term.