Brexit puts Shropshire farmers in peril, claim

Britain's decision to leave the European Union could lead to restrictions on immigration – and Shropshire NFU representative Ali Capper warned that could put growers out of business.

Mrs Capper said the decision to leave the EU placed huge uncertainty over whether the industry would be able to access non-UK workers.

They are crucial in picking, grading and packing crops that are eaten by British consumers, she said.

"Post-Brexit there is the likelihood that there will be a more restrictive immigration process in place," Mrs Capper said.

"Effectively this could end the free movement of labour from the European Economic Area. We need to be prepared to explore all the possible options in maintaining access to horticulture's vital labour supply. This could involve some form of visa-restricted access to labour. We need to investigate the specifics to ensure we have the workforce this industry needs.

"What is also clear is that we are not just talking about access to seasonal labour – some sectors and businesses are currently reliant on non-UK workers in full-time roles, year-round."

Mrs Capper said she had written to Brexit minister David Davis, asking him to meet with members as soon as possible to discuss how horticulture – and other farming sectors – was reliant on labour.

She tells him in her letter: "Our exit from the European Union now creates uncertainty for farmers and growers. It is not unusual for horticultural producers to be planning crops 10 years in advance, yet these crops cannot be produced without good labour supply."

The letter adds non-UK workers support a horticulture industry worth around £3 billion to the UK economy.

She said that the sector still relies on labour intensive hand-harvesting.