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This is the classic problem, however, who would otherwise pick these crops?

Anyone. The farmers would just have to bid the wage to something that legitimate citizens would work for.

And that would not entail any significant rise in the cost of produce. The actual labor cost of a head of lettuce has been estimated at around 15 cents. The wage rate could be doubled and Mrs. Soccer Mommy in St. Louis would barely notice the increase. For that matter, there are plently of labor saving machinery designs for high value agriculture which are not implemented because the cost of illegal labor simply makes it not economical. Instead of mechanization, agriculture is instead going to Mexicanization.

The fact that illegals are basically given carte blanche to scurry across the American landscape in search of temporary labor has to do with the political calculation that if we don't allow that to happen, a social catastrophe will occur in Mexico (that's true). The fact that the policy serves the needs of Mexico's despicable ruling class at the expense of the citizens of the United States merely shows the contempt in which we are held by our leaders.

Illegal immigration is not inevitable, it's a function of government policy. Were it to stop, there would be a net positive effect on the economy of the United States, not a net negative as is routinely asserted.

And that would not entail any significant rise in the cost of produce.

You're right ... but you overlooked a crucial consideration on the way to your punch line ... while doubling the harvest costs would not raise the retail price significantly, it would remove the head of lettuce from Mrs. Soccer Mommy's shopping cart because it wouldn't be available in the grocery store ... the farmesr would stop growing lettuce or any other produce for that matter ... the economics of producing at a loss couldn't be justified.

Conversly let's apply your equitable solution to the food chain from field to shopping cart. Let's pay the laborer a "living wage" ... and for good measure we'll provide the farmer a profit margin on par with that enjoyed by the packer/shipper and the broker ... and let's extend that same courtesy to the grocer ... again no lettuce in Mrs. Mommy's basket because there is no lettuce in the store .... because there is no demand for such an overpriced product.

Let's review the results of your national ag policies. We'd have three things in grocery stores; Mom and pop owner/managers struggling to survive, overpaid union clerks with little business to justify their existance and of course, a group of really angry shoppers cursing your name.