A new NFU survey indicates the UK’s 2022 fruit and vegetable harvest has been significantly affected because there is not enough Labour. The results of the survey show that in the first half of 2022 alone, 22 million British pounds of fruit and vegetables were wasted due to a labour shortage.
As the survey represents about a third of the UK horticultural sector, the NFU estimates that the total value of wasted food exceeds £ 60 million. The results show the adverse effects of a labour shortage on the food and agriculture sectors, leading to significant crop losses at a time when the country is going through the worst cost crisis in generations.
Tom Bradshaw, vice president of the NFU: “it is a true tragedy that nutritious quality food is being wasted at a time when families across the country are already struggling to make ends meet due to the rapidly rising cost of living.”
“At the same time, the persistent dry weather and record temperatures have created a very difficult growing environment for our fruits and vegetables. Every harvest is valuable – for the horticultural companies and for the people who fill their plate with it. We simply cannot afford not to harvest crops.”
The professional body warns that the total amount of food wasted could in fact be much higher – possibly on the order of 60 million pounds – as survey respondents represent only about a third of the UK horticultural sector.
