“We’re entering a time of year where we’re becoming self-sufficient in a lot of fresh produce,” Marston tells me. “In the summer, we grow 95% of our berries at home, 100% of our broccoli and 100% of our carrots. It is extremely important that we get these crops out of the ground and get them to the supermarkets. ”
April 23 officially marked the start of the UK asparagus season, but with so many jobs to fill, it is possible that hundreds of thousands of stems will not be collected. Despite the size of the job at hand, Marston remains optimistic about the will of the British public. “It’s a tough question, I know. But I’ve seen a lot of interest lately, and there’s a lot of flexibility around farm work.
British Summer Fruits has created webpages on both the Love Fresh Berries website and their own, providing an interactive map for job seekers to find their own area and hover over pins for available jobs. While permanent jobs are probably the only ones on display, Marston assures me that it’s easy to organize your own hours with the individual farm that’s right for you. “For now, I think farmers will be happy with any help they can get.”
Likewise, Concordia, in partnership with the HOPS seasonal labor department and recruiter Fruitful Jobs, launched “ Feed the Nation ” – a “ dig for victory ” recruitment campaign aimed at mobilizing the workforce. newly or temporarily unemployed. He is currently seeking government support to give the campaign a boost, although this has yet to materialize.
As for the job itself, first-time pickers don’t have to worry about inexperience. Farms are well trained in training new workers, so the only requirement is that you are 18 or older, fit, healthy, and willing to engage in manual labor.
And to answer the question on the lips of many, the work is paid. Marston tells me that the salary for fruit picking can range from £ 11 an hour to £ 15 an hour, depending on productivity. Recent reports, however, have revealed that many farms pay the national minimum wage or work piecemeal, with wages depending entirely on productivity. It should also be borne in mind that the demand for seasonal work could potentially affect your eligibility for certain government benefits during the pandemic, so check this before applying.
The hotel and service industry is one of the most affected by the coronavirus crisis; chefs, kitchen porters, front desk staff, bar staff and many others involved in running a successful restaurant, bar, pub or cafe got together found unemployed. But helping farms harvest their fresh produce is a fantastic way to ensure the nation stays well fed until business picks up.
Where you can apply for seasonal fruit and vegetable picking jobs:
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Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
This notice was published: 2020-05-10 11:43:41
