The difficulty in sourcing seasonal horticultural labour is evidently not a uniquely British problem, if stories coming out of the USA are anything to go by.

Reports in Vancouver claim that fruit growers in some areas are looking to double the number of temporary workers from Mexico this year as they are facing a shortage in apple and cherry pickers.

However at the same time growers are trying to place an emphasis on developing local sources of labour in an attempt to avoid problems of fruit falling to the ground or being picked too late.

Glen Lucas, general manager of the B C Fruit Growers' Association, has estimated that around 1,700 workers are needed for the apple picking season between September and October.

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