There is a major problem for the horticultural industry right now.
The industry is waiting for ministers at the Home Office and Defra to make a decision on the future of SAWS (Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme), which finishes this summer.
This is the scheme that, under permits issued by the Home Office, allows students from non-EU countries to work for up to six months in horticulture then return to their own countries to continue their studies.
The industry is very reliant on having these people available to harvest crops in the fresh produce sector. The whole supply chain will be impacted and the ability to get crops harvested will be at risk. The industry has tried to work with UK people and it has failed due to lack of response or them not being prepared to do the work, which one accepts is seasonal and hard.
We were told the decision would be taken by the end of June. It has also been acknowledged by all parties that the scheme has worked well.
As I write, summer is finally here after the awful cold spring: again, the cost to growers is enormous in lost sales and the peaks and troughs of supply as crops catch up too quickly. Fingers crossed for a good run of weather to make up for the last four months. Up to the end of June we recorded 212mm of rain (8.48 inches) so the irrigation teams are flat out: funny old world after last year’s horrendously wet weather!