Fewer British products in supermarkets due to Brexit, farmers tell MPs

Brexit is having a detrimental effect on farming, the chiefs have warned recently saying that there are now fewer home-grown products on the shelves of Britain’s supermarkets.

Farmers in Kent told a visiting group of MPs that due to strict limits on the number of seasonal workers from the EU, it has become easier to import some fruits than harvest them here, Independent reported on Thursday (2).

The report further quoted Stephen Taylor, managing director of Winterwood Farms in Maidstone, to state that UK farms had been forced to leave 8 per cent of their fruit crop unharvested and would be planting less in future.

“The flow of people coming from Europe to work for the summer has declined every year since Brexit, particularly the last two summers, and as a direct result we are now growing less and importing more,” he said.

“The government could still allow the same people to carry out the harvest – but it has inexplicably decided to choke the industry instead,” he added, calling for more flexible seasonal work visas.

Labour MP Hilary Benn led the delegation that visited Winterwood’s farms in Kent to understand the difficulties they are facing with labour shortages.

MPs were told that the UK stores will see less fresh, more expensive imported fruit to cover the shortfall.

The UK Trade and Business Commission delegation, which is examining the impact of Brexit, also heard that British farmers’ off-season trade had also been badly hit.

Naomi Smith, chief executive of the internationalist campaign group Best for Britain, said prime minister Boris Johnson’s ministers might have to stomach “more European berries in their Pimms this summer”.

“The government’s insufficient Brexit deal, far from being oven ready, actually means quality home-grown produce is left to rot, and leaves British supermarkets with no choice but to import, meaning consumers have less choice, less fresh produce and higher prices,” Smith said.

The report comes weeks after a report by academics at the LSE Centre for Economic Performance found that Brexit had caused a 6 per cent increase in Britain’s food prices.

The study showed “a clear and robust impact of Brexit-induced trade frictions increasing food prices for UK consumers” as families continued to struggle with the cost of living crisis.