Deliveries of popular winter vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, white cabbage, cauliflower and mushrooms can be affected by labor shortages, partly due to Brexit uncertainty. The crisis affects apple harvest the most, as producers are forced to leave 100 tons of fruit without picking, which is about 16 million apples.

Data from a survey by the National Farmers Union suggests that farmers are short of seasonal labor by 16%, and as a result, British farmers can suffer a lot during the holiday season.

The decline in employment makes experts fear food shortages in the winter in supermarkets. Ali Kapper, chairman of the NFU’s horticulture council and apple producer, said: “Carrots, parsnips, or broccoli may not be enough for Christmas when the crop is approaching.

In recent years, a shortage of workers from Eastern Europe, who make up 99% of the seasonal workforce, has created problems for manufacturers, but this year the situation worsened due to Brexit concerns.

EU workers are increasingly choosing to work in countries that pay in euros, such as the Netherlands, Denmark or Germany, because they obviously lag behind the possible devaluation of the pound and confusion regarding visa regulations.

According to Jack Ward, executive director of the British Association of Producers, Jack Ward, who grows crops from the southwest, was to leave the broccoli crop to rot on his fields, losing 100 thousand pounds.

Mr. Ward: “This could potentially limit supplies, but retailers will do their best to make sure there are goods on the shelves. There is a danger that we will begin to import goods. ”

He said that currently the British Farmers Association wants the government to expand the pilot scheme to allow workers from outside the EU, such as Ukraine, Belarus and Russia, to go to seasonal work in Britain.