British strawberries could cost 50% more because of Brexit, MPs told

Prospect of seasonal labour crisis prompts calls for introducing new scheme to ensure UK farms have enough workers to pick fruit and veg

The price of British strawberries could rise by 50% if ministers fail to plug growing gaps in seasonal labour which are expected to get worse after Brexit, MPs have heard.

The prospect of a 3 punnet of strawberries was raised by MPs as they called for a new seasonal agricultural workers scheme to be introduced by next year - or sooner - to stop the shortage of EU labour becoming a crisis.