The government has only announced two of four operators for its Seasonal Workers Pilot last week, which was supposed to find the necessary migrant labour to harvest crops. Post-Brexit rules have tightened up visas for seasonal pickers who help get much-loved fruit and veg off the vine and onto the shelves. He said last night: "We need to get more home-grown labour picking our fruit and veg - but the numbers here are not enough. A Defra spokesperson said: "Seasonal workers provide vital labour to ensure that local produce gets onto supermarket shelves. "This year’s seasonal workers pilot – which has been extended and expanded from 10,000 to 30,000 visas – will continue to support the edible horticulture sector.

Source: Daily Mirror May 15, 2021 22:07 UTC