Kent berry growers call for extended visas for seasonal workers
Local farmers say they are in crisis
Last updated 28th Jul 2024
Kent's berry growers are calling for an uninterrupted supply of pickers from Europe and beyond.
The British Berry Growers (BBG) wants the government to increase the length of the seasonal worker scheme visa for overseas pickers from six to nine months.
It will mean people are available throughout the growing season.
Nick Marston, chair of the BBG, tells us what he's calling for.
"We'd like to see a nine-month visa which would enable farmers to recruit people who could work right the way through the season.
"That's great for the grower because those people become more productive as the year goes on, and they don't have to suffer the cost of re-recruiting half way through the year," he says.
Nick says the extended visas would benefit the workers too:
"It's great for the workers too because they're coming here to earn cash to take home. The longer they're here the more cash they can earn so it's a win-win for everybody."
He also says the scheme would provide long-term security to farmers.
"If you go to a bank and say 'I'd like to borrow several million pounds to invest in my farm but I don't know if I have the people to utilise that investment in three or four years time', the bank isn't going to give you the money," he says.
The BBG's calls come amid an unexpected surge in the number of strawberries up for sale.
Kent fruit grower Mansfields is predicting an extra 40 to 50 tonnes a week until the end of August.
It's thought to be down to a cold and wet spell earlier in the year - and a recent mini-heatwave.