It's funny isn't it? These guys are making really good money, and a lot of it is spent in our community.
There are a lots and lots of people these days who would rather get paid the Washington State minimum wage of $7.63 working in a fast food restaurant than go outside in the heat and get paid a LOT more for working hard. Part of the problem is Washington State minimum wage laws, imo. They're nuts.
And for what its worth, most growers, even those who might end up hiring illegals...as long as you show the required documentation are not going to risk the being hit by lawsuits trying to guess if you are illegal or not. You will also be paid at least minimum wage to keep Olympia off your back.
So...come on out and make some decent money. Just remember, however, that once the harvest is in...you have to go elsewhere to find work...because it generally is not going to be in town.
"It's funny isn't it? These guys are making really good money, and a lot of it is spent in our community."
Right you are! We had one family that showed up every year in 2 nice Ford Vans and newer Ford Pickup with an overhead slide-in camper. All three vehicles had CA plates and I might add that they were nicer and way newer than what I was driving.
This family consisted of all ages from a tiny baby to the old grandma & grandpa. All paychecks were made out to the old man who distributed it amongst his sons and their families as he saw fit. There were 9 "pickers" in the group and they averaged 80+ bins per day at $10.80 per. That's over $800.00 per day and they stayed until the last apple was picked. Few, if any bruised apples, never had any problems with them and they all attended the local Catholic Church on Sunday. Good people.
They followed the Cherries starting in OR and then finished the final harvest in Flathead Lake. From there they moved on to the apples in central upstate WA (Oroville) to finish out the season. Then they headed south down to the Gulf of Mexico where they owned (outright) 200 acres with separate houses for each family.
During the winter when my wife and I were pruning trees in 20 degree snowy windy weather they were taking tourists fishing on their charter boat, drinking cold beers on the beach and having fun.
And some of us call them "stupid lazy Mexicans"!??
If they (Mexicans) were all like these good folks we would be lucky to have as many as possible come in to pick our fruit. It's the gangs, rapists, drug dealers and thugs, not to mention the OTM's that spoil it for people like these.