Oh, phsaw. Let's not drag economic realities into this discussion. (A good point, btw. Then again, you actually being from Washington gives you an advantage over those who haven't seen the fruit industry close-up.)
~smiles~ I've spent enough time in Wenatchee and Yakima, went to school in Eastern Wa.
I also worked in Social Services, and have seen the social service agencies run around like mad trying to offer services to these 'poor' people, offering them day care and employment assistance they clearly didn't need. They spend a lot of money on programs and no one shows up, these people know where they're going, and really aren't asking for help.
Some of the earliest jobs I held were in the fruit industry--picking apples and peaches here in Michigan, back when the minimum wage was $3.35 an hour. I bought my first car from the money I saved up, as did a number of my teenage friends. Those jobs are no longer available to American teenagers, even those willing to be paid under the table for less than the current minimum wage. I also worked as a maid, weekends, my senior year in high school. I tried to get a job as a maid here in Lansing after my first child was born--I needed a job with unconventional hours and hotel/motel work offers a number of such jobs. Even with experience I didn't have a chance. All of those jobs are done by illegals around here. We sold our car to make ends meet. It was either that or daycare for our infant so I could go back to a regular job.
Sure hope you don't mind my dragging an economic reality into the discussion.