Every year, the apple producer Henri Mazeno in Saint-Paul-en-Jaurez faces the same problem: the lack of manpower to harvest. According to him, the reason is too many unemployment benefits and the globalization of the economy, which prevents him from hiring more workers.

Two years ago, due to a lack of manpower, Henri Mazeno, a gardener from Saint-Paul-en-Jarez, was forced to abandon part of his cherry harvest. Today, his actions are aimed at finding working hands to collect apples, pears and cherries, which he grows on his farm in 30 hectares.

According to him, this Thursday Henri Mazeno met with other gardeners from all over France, "who share this opinion."

“In the spring, I don’t have so many difficulties, because I am recruiting many students and high school students to help me on the farm,” Mazeno begins. “The problem has been since October, no one,” says the gardener.

“Many unemployed are not interested in work,” says Henry. “Some people ask that they be paid in disguise, and they continued to receive benefits,” the producer is annoyed.

Henri Mazeno is looking for staff for the position of a fruit packer, as well as harvest workers.

Due to a lack of staff, these functions are provided by his wife, Francoise. “I am disappointed that I can’t enjoy my pension, I can’t enjoy my grandchildren,” said the farmer, who started working at age 17.