Growers say fruit's ready, but workers are scarce

[spindrifter]

By Joe Mullin

Seattle Times staff reporter

WAPATO, Yakima County — Heinz Humann was late this year. Later than he's ever been.

His workers finished thinning out apple and pear trees to prepare for the harvest in mid-August. But they should have been finished a month earlier. The past few months, it's been tough for Humann to find enough workers for what he can afford to pay. He's had plenty of work, he says. But it seems there's no one willing to do it.

<snip>

Like Humann, apple growers all over Washington this summer are complaining that a heated immigration debate in the U.S. has combined with a late cherry harvest to create a shortage of agricultural workers, perhaps the worst they've seen.

Evidence in the fields of Eastern Washington is so far anecdotal. But some guess that migrant workers may be attracted away by higher-paying jobs. Others surmise that high gas prices have discouraged some workers from driving north after finishing harvests in California.

<snip>

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003235014_appleharvest30m.html

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

1. It will rot on the trees

Fresh fruit will be become scarce, and very expensive.

Damned brown skinned hoardes, not keeping their place... :sarcasm:

[spindrifter]

7. It's already expensive!

Peaches and nectarines are $1.99/lb. on sale at a local major grocery.

[Critters2]

14. The price should reflect the cost of production--

including paying workers a living wage. You have no "right" to cheap fruit.

[spindrifter]

16. No one said there was a "right" to cheap

produce. The problem is that more and more low income people will be unable to afford fruits and vegetables and are likely to have more health problems as a result.

[Critters2]

18. If lower-end incomes rise, as would happen if workers

were paid a living wage and cheap labor weren't so plentiful, the entire economy would benefit. It's what's meant by the saying "A rising tide lifts all boats". But as long as corporatists are working to keep wages depressed with cheap labor, those on the bottom suffer more.

[w4rma]

2. "And they don't want to pay much for it."

Apples are a labor-intensive crop. They require hand harvesting so the fruit looks as good as it tastes. At the same time, the giant grocery chains such as Arkansas-based Wal-Mart and Ohio-based Kroger's, which runs QFC and Fred Meyer, can push down prices, growers say.

"They want perfect fruit," Humann said. "And they don't want to pay much for it."

[ComerPerro]

3. according to the racist anti-immigrant crowd

supply and demand will fix everything, and these people will have to pay higher.

I guess there really are some jobs Americans won't do.

[Critters2]

12. The problem is precisely that--that he isn't paying enough

"Last year, farm workers earned an average of $10.89 per hour. Adjusted for inflation, farm workers' wages have been stagnant for 15 years. If there were a labor shortage, wages would rise as employers outbid each other to hire limited numbers of workers, the economists point out."

See...supply and demand.

[ComerPerro]

15. but why aren't Americans rushing to do this job at current rates?

[Critters2]

17. Again--slowly this time, he's not paying what the work is worth

Hard work should offer REALLY good pay.

[ComerPerro]

19. and when he jacks up the prices, are you willing to pay that much

for fruit?

[Critters2]

21. Yes

That's what it's worth. If workers are to be treated decently, I'll have to pay what fruit is really worth.

[ComerPerro]

23. trust me, not many people will.

and besides, the growers will have no trouble finding people to do the work for little pay. They won't be raising pay any time soon.

[Critters2]

24. This grower's experience makes me think they will

If he wants workers, he'll pay what it takes to get 'em.

If you want apples, you'll do the same.

[kentuck]

4. Once you've worked a high-paying construction job...

it's hard to go back to picking apples...

[pscot]

11. You got that exactly right

All the contractors around here are using illegal latinos in preference to the local kids they used to employ and train. The illegals are docile, reliable, available and they work harder. Who wants to bother with American workers?

[Critters2]

13. You forgot "cheap" nt

[BOSSHOG]

5. Surely the young republicans will come to the rescue

They spend all their time thinking of ways to help their country!

[libodem]

6. get those lazy teenagers out there to pick 'em

so sayth the right wing talk show callers. A discussion was taking place on the car radio as I was driving to a friend's house this summer. Sure makes you wonder if he was talking about his own little rich kids. {Probably means some poor white trash welfare delinquents.)

[High Plains]

8. Where's the DU Farm Worker Brigade? C'mon guys, here's a

chance to do those jobs people keep saying Americans won't do.

[SmokingJacket]

9. Depressing.

American farmers are competing with cheap imported fruit -- I don't see how they CAN afford to pay workers enough.

Maybe if they go organic...?

[Protagoras]

10. Wine is going to get hit hard in the next month too

takes a lot of manual labor to get those grapes in and processed quickly and I'm hearing that it's simply not available.

[earth mom]

20. Want workers? Raise wages you dumb-a$$!

The growers opinion that he can't find workers at what he can afford to pay should be translated into what he's willing to pay. Why is he surprised that people want and demand decent wages?! :puke:

[Critters2]

22. Exactly. Thank you. nt