UK farmers turn to Nepal and Tajikistan for fruit pickers

Wednesday 15th June 2022 06:43 EDT
 

Every spring thousands of seasonal workers come to harvest the UK's soft fruits, but this year they're coming. Before Brexit many people came from Poland, Romania and Bulgaria to harvest UK's fruits. Now, UK growers are employing people from Nepal, Indonesia, Tajikistan and other places.
Most of the workers do not speak English but they have picked some English and the farm owners are relieved that they can at least understand some English and the communication is possible.

Getting enough workers for the summer season is always a challenge, but this year, with the soft fruit season just about to hit its peak, many growers say they're more worried than they've ever been that there won't be enough pickers.

Jenny Tasker from Harwill Farm near Retford which supplies Waitrose, Tesco and Marks and Spencer, has always had a mix of nationalities. But this year their workers come from nine different countries, including 35 from Nepal for the first time, 45 Tajikistan, and even three from Indonesia.


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