Pick For Britain: UK workers needed as foreign workers flown into UK amid crisis in farming sector

[oryx]

In Greece during their economic meltdown there were farmers driving into towns and cities with a lorryload of produce and just selling it in the street. Happens in Italy too. Maybe we'll start to see more of that sort of thing here. Saw a bloke today who'd set himself up with a makeshift shack on the A6096 selling his potatoes and eggs.

Back in the day you would get local farmers selling their produce on stalls in York market. Believe me, this market was very far removed from the 'farmers' markets' of today.

Just wondering where traditional street markets get their fruit and veg from - is it direct from the farmers? There are certainly traditional street markets here in Lewisham and Catford which do a good trade.

 

[8ball]

I'm not knowledgeable in this area, though I think if the supermarkets weren't on the front foot the farmers would be.

Let's see all parties working at cost and figure things out from there if there's any talk of volunteering.

 

[lizzieloo]

Back in the day you would get local farmers selling their produce on stalls in York market. Believe me, this market was very far removed from the 'farmers' markets' of today.

Just wondering where traditional street markets get their fruit and veg from - is it direct from the farmers? There are certainly traditional street markets here in Lewisham and Catford which do a good trade.

From wholesale markets usually

London Wholesale Markets

www.londonwholesalemarkets.com

 

[Saul Goodman]

And I think the main reason it's so low paid is the supermarkets screw the farmers so hard that their margin is tiny. The supermarket-driven food system is the big issue here I reckon: farmers have to sign contracts guaranteeing to deliver X number of carrots (or whatever) on a specific date, regardless of the weather conditions or having enough workers. If the farmers can't make the order, they're cast aside and the crop is basically lost/worthless. The supermarkets have made £billions of extra in sales in recent weeks but I can't see them paying any extra to support better wages/conditions...they are fcuking ruthless...which is why they're going to struggle to get the workers needed.

That's exactly the reason. Nothing to do with greedy farmers. It's the supermarkets, making farmers' margins so tight that they have no choice but to pay peanuts.
People need to fuck supermarkets off, and start buying from butchers and others who don't screw their workers and suppliers, and at the same time, people need to fight for a wage that will allow this.

 

[dessiato]

Loads of strawberries from Spain in the shops, and very nice they are too

I wonder how they are picking them in Spain with the restrictions?

At the moment it is still possible to get fruit etc picked but it is becoming a bit of a problem.

The people who would previously have moved around the country doing the harvesting can't now go to the places they are needed. Although the harvests are being brought in the manpower shortage means it isn't all being gathered in time.

As in the UK there is a need for people to help out.

Huelva province, which has a lot of strawberry fields, they seem to go on forever, also has the lowest incidence of CV19. This is due to the province having no international airports, relatively poor road and rail infrastructure, and relatively low incomes so they don't travel so much. It's also not much of a tourist destination.

 

[gosub]

At the moment it is still possible to get fruit etc picked but it is becoming a bit of a problem.

The people who would previously have moved around the country doing the harvesting can't now go to the places they are needed. Although the harvests are being brought in the manpower shortage means it isn't all being gathered in time.

As in the UK there is a need for people to help out.

Huelva province, which has a lot of strawberry fields, they seem to go on forever, also has the lowest incidence of CV19. This is due to the province having no international airports, relatively poor road and rail infrastructure, and relatively low incomes so they don't travel so much. It's also not much of a tourist destination.

So how do they get the crop out

 

[dessiato]

So how do they get the crop out

By road. Once you get up to Jerez province you start to get to better roads up to Sevilla and beyond. They also take it across to Portugal and connect to the roads there. Faro airport is the closest to Huelva I think.

 

[Chilli.s]

The supermarkets seem to be making money better than ever at the moment, everything costs more. Let them pay for it with decent wages.

 

[Flavour]

Fuck supermarkets. And fuck the big farmers too. Everything about this food system wherein economies of scale are the primary production objective is wrong, and is a result of a demand both for cheap food and profits. Food is cheap because of this exploitation, the real cost paid far from the consumer's gaze. It's bad for workers, it's bad for the environment (massive use of pesticides, pollinator wipe out, etc). I know most people can't afford to buy all-organic stuff from expensive specialist shops, or even have access to such offerings (a lot of people are now totally dependent on supermarkets - whether big or "express" versions - for their food supply) but this is all very recent. It wasn't like this even just a couple of generations ago. An incredible amount of power has been concentrated in the hands of very few companies. It's scary.

 

[brogdale]

"The government is to ask millions of university students and furloughed workers to pick fruit and veg amid the coronavirus crisis in a national “Pick for Britain” campaign next week.

The pandemic and its restrictions on travel means farms will no longer be able to rely on temporary staff, many of whom come from Eastern Europe each year to harvest crops."

Government To Ask Millions Of Students And Furloughed Workers To Pick Fruit And Veg

Farms won't be able to recruit seasonal fruit and veg pickers from Europe, so those at a loose end will be asked to step in under the 'Pick for Britain' scheme.

m.huffingtonpost.co.uk

The National Farmers Union (NFU) believes up to 95% of the usual 70,000-strong seasonal workforce may be lost, and that UK-based employees unable to do their day-today jobs will need to step in.


This will be interesting. Do you reckon they'll fill the posts?

Didn't the Khmer Rouge select the intellectuals by sending all those that wore glasses?

 

[Marty1]

That's exactly the reason. Nothing to do with greedy farmers. It's the supermarkets, making farmers' margins so tight that they have no choice but to pay peanuts.
People need to fuck supermarkets off, and start buying from butchers and others who don't screw their workers and suppliers, and at the same time, people need to fight for a wage that will allow this.

Yep, I’m going to start looking for quality independent butchers from now on.

 

[gentlegreen]

Fuck supermarkets. And fuck the big farmers too. Everything about this food system wherein economies of scale are the primary production objective is wrong, and is a result of a demand both for cheap food and profits. Food is cheap because of this exploitation, the real cost paid far from the consumer's gaze. It's bad for workers, it's bad for the environment (massive use of pesticides, pollinator wipe out, etc). I know most people can't afford to buy all-organic stuff from expensive specialist shops, or even have access to such offerings (a lot of people are now totally dependent on supermarkets - whether big or "express" versions - for their food supply) but this is all very recent. It wasn't like this even just a couple of generations ago. An incredible amount of power has been concentrated in the hands of very few companies. It's scary.

I could afford "organic" but I deliberately avoid it -not just because it costs more - mostly because it's bullshit.

 

[Pickman's model]

At the moment it is still possible to get fruit etc picked but it is becoming a bit of a problem.

The people who would previously have moved around the country doing the harvesting can't now go to the places they are needed. Although the harvests are being brought in the manpower shortage means it isn't all being gathered in time.

As in the UK there is a need for people to help out.

Huelva province, which has a lot of strawberry fields, they seem to go on forever, also has the lowest incidence of CV19. This is due to the province having no international airports, relatively poor road and rail infrastructure, and relatively low incomes so they don't travel so much. It's also not much of a tourist destination.

That's where my strawberries came from

 

[ska invita]

Back in the day you would get local farmers selling their produce on stalls in York market. Believe me, this market was very far removed from the 'farmers' markets' of today.

Just wondering where traditional street markets get their fruit and veg from - is it direct from the farmers? There are certainly traditional street markets here in Lewisham and Catford which do a good trade.

I got to know a market stall trader on Rye Lane Peckham from when I was working there, turns out he was a farmer from north Kent, somewhere around Maidstone, I made a plan to camp on his land at one point. He was selling his own produce... Now I think about it he had a full range of veg so while some may have been his own some must've been picked up wholesale, I can't imagine he was growing all those things.

He was pretty unique to actually be a farmer though compared to other traders on Rye Lane.

 

[Spymaster]

Yeah, I’d give it a go. Looks like the cricket season is going to be cancelled so I’ll have some time on my hands and a bit of exercise in the sunshine might fit the bill.

I’d have a couple of caveats though. Work would have to start and finish at civilised times. None of this sunrise to sunset bollocks. And accommodation would need to meet basic acceptable standards. No way I’m sleeping in dormitories or sheds. Way to old for that shit now.

 

[dessiato]

That's where my strawberries came from

Where they good?

I get mine locally grown, they’re better, but it’s a very small scale operation.

 

[brogdale]

Yeah, I’d give it a go. Looks like the cricket season is going to be cancelled so I’ll have some time on my hands and a bit of exercise in the sunshine might fit the bill.

I’d have a couple of caveats though. Work would have to start and finish at civilised times. None of this sunrise to sunset bollocks. And accommodation would need to meet basic acceptable standards. No way I’m sleeping in dormitories or sheds. Way to old for that shit now.

Before you get too excited...make sure you pick the fruit to be picked carefully.
Having done picking on many different fruits in my time...some of them are cunts; for one, don't go anywhere near the currants.

 

[ska invita]

Yeah, I’d give it a go. Looks like the cricket season is going to be cancelled so I’ll have some time on my hands and a bit of exercise in the sunshine might fit the bill.

I’d have a couple of caveats though. Work would have to start and finish at civilised times. None of this sunrise to sunset bollocks. And accommodation would need to meet basic acceptable standards. No way I’m sleeping in dormitories or sheds. Way to old for that shit now.

No way are you doing this.

 

[dessiato]

Before you get too excited...make sure you pick the fruit to be picked carefully.
Having done picking on many different fruits in my time...some of them are cunts; for one, don't go anywhere near the currants.

Currants? Dried grapes?

 

[brogdale]

Currants? Dried grapes?

No, red, white, black...that sort; the fiddly, pricky little cunts.

 

[brogdale]

and cunting goosgogs; them as well

 

[Spymaster]

No way are you doing this.

I wouldn’t want to be doing too much bending down either. We need a crop where the soft fluffy fruit is at about 4ft high, falls off nicely into the basket, and is not too heavy.

 

[Proper Tidy]

Imagine fairy soft project manager hands with manicured nails doing fruit picking for a laugh

 

[Poot]

It's the eternal conundrum of who you're helping, isn't it? Hungry masses? Yes. Privileged landowner and grasping supermarkets and their assorted stakeholders? No.

 

[pesh]

I wouldn’t want to be doing too much bending down either. We need a crop where the soft fluffy fruit is at about 4ft high, falls off nicely into the basket, and is not too heavy.

weed harvesting in Cali then.

 

[mauvais]

The NFU were asking to be exempted from the national minimum wage the other day. There is fuck all chance of this being well paid.

 

[brogdale]

The NFU were asking to be exempted from the national minimum wage the other day. There is fuck all chance of this being well paid.

They're used to paying £3.50/hr with shitty caravan

 

[ska invita]

The NFU were asking to be exempted from the national minimum wage the other day. There is fuck all chance of this being well paid.

Im curious what their argument was, have you a link?

 

[cupid_stunt]

Imagine fairy soft project manager hands with manicured nails doing fruit picking for a laugh

You've met spy?

 

[kebabking]

It's the eternal conundrum of who you're helping, isn't it? Hungry masses? Yes. Privileged landowner and grasping supermarkets and their assorted stakeholders? No.

The difficult conundrum is when you're either doing both, or neither.

Pick fruit and you're putting money in someone's pockets, don't pick it and people who are already on a poor diet and getting little exercise won't be able to eat fruit or veggies.