British strawberries threatened by EU worker shortage

(LONDON) - Britain's traditional summer dessert of home-grown strawberries and cream could be off the menu this year due to a shortage of migrant workers from eastern Europe, the National Farmers' Union warned Monday.

Strawberries, raspberries and salad crops could be left to rot as workers from newer European Union states either head to other western EU destinations for harvesting jobs or enjoy rising prosperity at home, the NFU said.

Strawberries and cream is a British summer staple, often associated with the Wimbledon tennis championships.

"I do not want to scaremonger but our real concern is that the harvest is going to be left in the field which will mean there will be less British produce in the supermarket," said NFU chief horticultural advisor Philip Hudson.

He said some 13 growers of soft fruit and salad vegetables were facing a 2,400 shortfall on the 4,400 workers required.

Migrant workers from eastern Europe were now less interested in coming to Britain, Husdon added.

Britain was one of only three countries to allow unrestricted access to residents from eight eastern European countries when they joined the EU in May 2004.

"Their standard of living at home has increased more rapidly than anyone could have projected so they are now staying at home," Hudson said.

"Other countries, such as The Netherlands, have now opened their borders to them to work."

The NFU wants an urgent increase in the number of permits issued to non-EU workers for seasonal agricultural jobs in order to combat the shortfall.