[denphone]

Originally Posted by tweetiepooh

Only read headline but was mentioning that though thousands have looked at or expressed interest in fruit/veg picking (tens of thousands of positions) only hundred or so have actually turned up.

Is this fear of mixing, unable to travel, or other reasonable reason or just that people don't want to do the job? Do the government need to be maybe firmer with those whose salaries they are picking up? My wife said she did the job one season while a student, lots of those not at college at the moment.

A Government minister has issued a statement about this a few minutes ago.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/li...latest-updates

The government is to step up its campaign to find British workers to pick fruit and vegetables during the coronavirus lockdown.

Environment, food and rural affairs minister Lord Gardiner of Kimble said farms currently had sufficient seasonal labour.

But he said the campaign to plug the gap left by having fewer pickers from abroad would be “escalated” next month.