Visa shortage undermines ambitions for horticulture sector

Martin Emmett

Martin Emmett

NFU Horticulture and Potatoes Board chair

An image of two men harvesting cabbages from a field
The NFU's Horticulture and Potatoes Board chair Martin Emmett calls on the government to deliver more visas for seasonal workers.

The Home Office has failed to acknowledge the unique challenge of seasonal worker recruitment.

It has taken more than six months to release the extra 10,000 visas announced before Christmas 2021. This has resulted in a pause in recruitment that will have significant consequences for iconic crops such as British apples and winter vegetables.


Ask us a question about this page

Once you have submitted your query someone from NFU CallFirst will contact you. If needed, your query will then be passed to the appropriate NFU policy team.

You have 0 characters remaining.

By completing the form with your details on this page, you are agreeing to have this information sent to the NFU for the purposes of contacting you regarding your enquiry. Please take time to read the NFU’s Privacy Policy if you require further information.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.