News
downsmail.co.uk Fruit farms face picking crisis
A TIGHTER labour market in the wake of Brexit has resulted in a plunge in seasonal work requests from Eastern Europe to local fruit farms.
Local businesses estimate 95% of
produce is picked by foreign work- ers but only those with permits will be allowed into the UK or those who have already settled here.
Stephen Taylor of Winterwood
Farms Ltd in East Sutton has suf- fered a drop of 90% in the number of applications received each day from abroad.
As the summer harvest starts in earnest, he said: "We are right at the brink now." The Government had always pledged to look out for fruit-grow- ers with their need for pickers. The industry itself has claimed the number of permits allowing foreign workers to come here fell far short of the number required to keep the industry going.
Cook Alfred’s
book success A MAIDSTONE Grammar School pupil’s cookbook has outsold Mary Berry, Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver in its first week of publication. Twelve-year-old Alfred Moisan took part in the Kent Young Cooks competition last year and used lockdown to create his book, which is called “In Conversation With Alfred”. Alfred is donating any profits to FareShare, a charity fighting hunger and food waste. His book is available from Amazon for £9.99.
Play upgrade
WORK has begun to upgrade and expand Barming Heath play area. The works started on July 5 and will last up to five weeks. The design provides children of
all ages and abilities with as many play experiences as possible. The works have been funded by de- veloper contributions.
Charity sale AFTER 18 months of being un-
able to raise funds, the Making Miracle childcare charity will have a stall selling baby items and crafts outside the village shop in Detling between 10am and 1pm on July 17.
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Critics say the farms want over- seas labour simply because it is cheaper and they often live on-site. British Summer Fruits, the um- brella organisation for growers, said that staff costs can represent up to 60% of all expenditure. The government-approved sea- sonal workers’ pilot has been ex- panded into 2021 after the launch two years ago, and four recruiters are handling the bulk of the gov- ernment work. One company, Canterbury-based Pro-Force, had a turnover of £65m in 2019 but an overall profit of less than £80,000. The scheme allows 30,000 mi- grant workers to come into the UK to work temporarily.
Independent recruiting agent
Paul Haralambie, of Barming, said 30,000 permits cannot meet the es-
sector. It's very tough this year. Clients who haven't been in touch for a while are calling me now, but I can't help them." Mr Haralambie brings in around 50 pickers each year and works as a harvest manager. Jane Peckham, recruitment man-
ager at Coxheath’s Clock House Farm, said a growth in the business means she will be seeking local workers, but not necessarily for fruit-picking. The farm needs around 600 employees and, this year, its quota has been reached. Last year, many locals who ap-
timated industry needs of more than 100,000. Mr Haralambie, pictured, a Ro- manian national, said: "The pilot scheme quota is not enough for our
plied for picking work during lock- down were disappointed, with some claiming a perception within the industry that they could not keep up with the Eastern European workers and were unreliable.
Appeal after
street assault A MAN was taken to hospital with head injuries after an assault in Maidstone. The incident happened in Lower Stone Street, near its junction with Mote Road at around 4.40pm on June 14 .
It is alleged the victim, a man in
his 20s, was assaulted by another man and fell to the ground. He was taken to hospital with head injuries and has been discharged. A man was arrested.
Building a happy team
MAIDSTONE United boss Hakan Hayrettin (pictured left with former man- ager, John Still) has signed 10 new players ahead of the season when fans are allowed back into the Gallagher Stadium. He hopes Stones fans will take the new stars to their hearts when play
resumes in front of paying supporters for the first time since March 2020. Numbers will be limited for the National League South’s home game sto begin with. Former Barnet and Wycombe Wanderers player, Mr Hayrettin, said: “As
a player I tried to show the supporters that I cared, that I wanted to be at a certain place. My management is no different to that. “Win, lose or draw, we’ve got to thank the supporters for being there.
We want the interaction with the support, we want to show the support- ers as much as they are there for us, we want to be there “If the supporters take you to their hearts and you can show the will- ingness to work hard, with and without the ball, you’re going to be on to a winner. If you show that, especially with the support we’ve got, then we’re going to have some good times here. “The players I’ve tried to bring in, their personalities and character have
to be as important as their ability. Recruitment is key to everything you do and I’ve tried to assemble a squad that’s going to make Maidstone United a happy place to be.”
Officers are appealing for wit-
nesses and are asking drivers to check dashcam footage that may assist the investigation.
Sports deal
A LEISURE trust has been offi- cially appointed to manage the troubled Kings Hill Sports Park. From June 14, tmactive has
signed a 25-year partnership agree- ment with site owner Kings Hill Parish Council. The park's free- holder has agreed to add changing rooms, courts and other facilities.
Health event
THE Mason Foundation, a charity aimed at promoting exercise, is staging The Family Mile at Mote Park on July 25 between 11am and 2pm. For more details, go to
themasonmile.com.
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