Brexit Seen Boosting Strawberry Prices If Farms Lose Workers
- Group warns prices may jump up to 50 percent on labor shortage
- Almost all seasonal farm workers in U.K. come from overseas
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Strawberries, a treat eaten every year at the Wimbledon tennis championships, could cost Britons a lot more if Brexit leaves farms without enough seasonal workers from overseas. And there are signs labor shortages are already emerging.
Strawberry and raspberry prices will jump 35 percent to 50 percent if British growers lose access to summer workers, almost all of whom come from other European Union nations, according to a report commissioned by industry group British Summer Fruits. That would cut U.K. fruit output and mean imports would be needed to make up for the shortfall.