[hedgetrimmer]

Note that the pickers are paid by the hour, not the lb.

They can do very well if they are fast pickers.

[Brandonmark]

Note that the pickers are paid by the hour, not the lb.

Actually, according to the article, pickers are paid by the box, however by working harder and faster they can make more money (good old fashioned American productivity incentive):

"...he posted fliers advertising the new prices his boss, J.W. Paulk Jr., had just set in hopes of luring workers: $3.50 and $4.50 per box, depending on the size, up a quarter from a week before.

The large boxes hold 96 ounces of berries, and the fastest pickers fill five boxes an hour, earning $22.50 an hour before taxes. Most make considerably less."

So if my math is accurate on this, the farmer's labor cost is 75 cents a pound ($4.50 for 6 pounds) which should provide a reasonable profit for his investment and enable someone choosing to put in the extra effort money to pay for the basic needs of their family.