NorCal Farmers: 'We Don't Have Enough Workers, Produce May Rot In Fields'

NBC11.com ^ | October 8, 2007

[SteveMcKing]

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Farmers in and around the Bay Area are starting to feel the pinch from tighter border security and visa requirements, NBC11's Daniel Garza reported Monday.

Some farmers told Garza they expect some of their fields to remain unpicked.

Some said they believe their fields will end up filled with rotting produce.

The Bush administration has learned of the possible loss of millions of dollars for thousands of farmers throughout the country, and is attempting to loosen visa requirements for workers.

However, farmers told Garza the attempt is "too little too late."

[SteveMcKing]

That's all very agreeable, but those are practical considerations that divert focus from this important point: Don't plant crops, and then expect others to facilitate their harvest.

Not by illegals, nor by privileged government programs that would make them temporarily legal.

File for bankruptcy instead. Everyone else does when they make bad investments, and farmers should too.

[Rembrandt]

“If farmers weren’t “hurting” before - and they are now - then they obviously must have been hiring illegals. And now we’re suppose to cry for them, and feel threatened by the TRAGIC loss of their lousy vegetables.
If you can’t find the labor you want and need for your business, then here’s some free capitalist advice: Go out of business like the failure you are.
—
Currently, I can buy tomatoes for about $2/pound plus what I spend in taxes supporting all the illegal immigrants.

If a lot of the illegal immigrants are gone and, as a result, I spend $3/pound for tomatoes, I think I’ve got a bargain.

If I can do without tomatoes, I have hit a home run, no high priced tomatoes and no wasted health care dollars.

[John Leland 1789]

You are correct.

First, the northern Cal farmers (that is where I grew up and would have gladly picked fruit and vegetables as a teenager or high school graduate) ought to advertise in all the local and regional newspapers for labor. I believe they would get a lot of laborers. Legal laborers.

Second, the state should stay off the backs of young people who want to work, with regard to insurance, workers comp, and so forth.

To divert from agriculture a moment. I graduated from high school when I was 17 years old. I was strong in body and able and willing to work. I had taken sheet metal classes and went to look for work at the lowest scale as a trainee. I filled out a couple of dozen applications. This was 1973. Eight employers called me for interviews. I went to all eight interviews, and could have had my pick of the eight, except, within days of each interview, I was called and informed that California workers compensation wouldn’t cover me because I was only 17. That was the ONLY reason I was never hired!

If I had known that there were jobs in the agricultural sector, I would have gone looking there. I figure, though, that I might have had the same problem with regard to workers comp laws. I am not sure. But I was ignorant of the work force needed in the orchards and fields. I could have learned quickly to pick lettuce from the ground or plums from the trees. I would have been perfectly willing (at age 17 especially) to do that work and try to save some money.

[theymakemesick]

"Lots of Mexicans are now in Canada, as the currency issue, and an abundance of jobs up there, is a better deal."

I guess you don't have any problem with people having to leave their homes to pick fruit as illegal aliens in order to support their families, and since these people are barely above subsistence level, what American products are they buying that allows them to take advantage of the "currency issue" as you call it?

"Finally, it is beyond silly and STUPID to think that just because you raise wages to a “livable standard” that your average educated American has even the slightest interest in picking fruit for a frickin living. Get real why don’t you?"

It's not "your average educated American" we're talking about here, it's the losers that didn't apply themselves in school or didn't think that they needed an education when they grew up. Why should I be forced to pay for their stupidity via welfare? There are innumerable opportunities for everyone in this country, the only lower class citizens are those that choose to be so, they can be the pick fruit pickers.

"Oh, yeah, and like the welfare crowd would do it, just because it paid decent? Nothing better than being paid to do nothing, in their minds."

Hence my new tag line.

[Oshkalaboomboom]

Farmers exploiting workers and paying them pennies is nothing new and neither is their whining about no workers, higher food prices, rotting vegetables, etc.

This scene is not taking place in the Congo. It has nothing to do with Johannesburg or Cape Town. It is not Nyasaland or Nigeria. This is Florida. These are citizens of the United States, 1960. This is a shape-up for migrant workers. The hawkers are chanting the going piece rate at the various fields. This is the way the humans who harvest the food for the best-fed people in the world get hired. One farmer looked at this and said, "We used to own our slaves; now we just rent them."

From the 1960 documentary Harvest Of Shame narrated by Edward R. Murrow

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvest_of_Shame

[Hostage]

Lettuce prices will rise but maybe property taxes will come down? I won’t hold my breath for the latter but know for a fact that schools, courts, clinics are jammed by illegals.

The real cost of that cheap lettuce ain’t cheap at all.

[afnamvet]

Don't come crying to government that American laws need to be changed in order to serve you.

Well said.

[Empireoftheatom48]

I think it’s time for Victory Gardens. I grow my own tomatoes herbs, melons, cucumbers, beans, and carrots. In the desert. We all should be able to help our selves!

[KoRn]

THEN GO HIRE SOME PEOPLE!!

I’m sure if the hiring rate is desirable, people will come to work...

[onedoug]

So what?

[jerry639]

I’d rather pay $20.00 for a pound of carrots picked by legals than $2.00 for a pound picked by illegals.

Absolutely!

[LachlanMinnesota]

But when you pay $2.00 per pound, you also pay more than $20.00 for the social services that that melon picker uses without contributing to the tax base. Paying $20.00 per pound will also not result in illegals running to get insurance or to get off the public dole.

Every time I pay my taxes, I am subsidizing that farmer, who hires illegals. What is the value of my contribution to that farmer’s well-being?

[jerry639]

I think if enough people get hungry, they will get up off the couch and go out to pick vegetables...

Yep, you are right. I have always said "there is nothing like 3 days of hunger to instill ambition in a person".

[LachlanMinnesota]

But all the prisoners ARE illegals!

[Wil H]

Try paying a decent wage and you will find workers that will do the job....

[yorkie]

>>What are the illegals doing?<<

What are they doing?

1. They are working at every single hotel/motel/resort in the housekeeping department.

2. They are standing in groups at Home Depots accross the country - picking up day labor jobs.

3. They are in the kitchen of every restaurant in the US.

4. They are standing in line in every grocery store in the country to buy food with the food stamps we pay for.

5. They are flooding our emergency rooms.

6. They are picking up beer at the local Circle K or 7-11.

7. They are getting our kids hooked on drugs.

8. They are getting their girlfriend p.g. so she can drop another anchor baby.

9. They are filling up our jails and prisons.

And, last but not least......

10. They are traveling to NYC to get a driver’s license.

[Colorado Doug]

The problem is that their illegal workers have found better paying jobs and have moved up the ladder.

[VeniVidiVici]

Prisoners.

Pay the State what they would normally pay the illegals to pick and let them use prisoners.

I’m sure Arnold won’t mind.

[bcsco]

This is a ping list promoting Immigration Enforcement and Congressional Reform.
If you wish to be added or removed from this ping list, please contact me.

78% of Americans Have Contact "Often" or "Sometimes" with Spanish Speakers (ABC Poll)

Assault suspect gives police officer ‘wet willie’ following arrest

Sheriff Joe Arpaio reacts to other agencies not enforcing immigration law

Activists Split on Sanctuary for Immigrants (Life in a Sanctuary City)

Need insurance? No license? No problem!

DMV's fraud busts hit Latinos

Migration of Mexicans Can't Be Stopped, Says Felipe Calderon

Opposition to Spitzer's license plan widespread

Police urged not to check legal status (Milwaukee a Sanctuary City?)

Illegals may give state more clout - ... more seats in Congress

XXV Border Governors Conference - Text of Joint Declaration (signed by U.S. and Mexico Governors)

TAKE A U-TURN, ELIOT (pols kneel in obeisance to hyphenates)

David Spade gives $25K to officer's family (killed by previously deported illegal immigrant)

A Tale Of Two Tongues