The Mexican Mafia picks our fruit and veggies. Don’t mess with them. An American couldn’t get a picker job even if they wanted too. A complete lock out.
In 60s and 70s in CA, roofers and concrete men were making big $$. Most were white and young. They had little problem filling jobs.
Now? roofers are illegals and are making 1990s wages.
I am likely the only person on this thread that has picked grapes. I buy 800 pounds each year from a local vineyard here in central VA. A good friend over in WV and I make wine every year.
After helping some migrant workers pick for a morning I will say that they work their butts off. Put me to shame with their speed picking (Of course I am in my 60s and have essential tremors, so they had some edge :-)
My point is that I imagine it would be a rare high school or college student who would be interested in picking grapes for even $20 an hour. Some might start, but would likely walk away after a couple of hours. It may not sound like hard work, but it is.
I am sure that at some point harvesting equipment will be designed to pick grapes and this whole issue will be history.