By Scout Nelson
Cherry farms in Washington state are facing a serious worker shortage during the short summer harvest season. Farmers rely on migrant workers to pick cherries between June and August, but this year, many workers are not showing up.
Growers and workers say fears of immigration enforcement are keeping many away. Although there have been no major raids in Washington, news of similar events in other states, like a raid at a New Mexico dairy and one at a Nebraska meatpacking plant, has spread fear.
Rosa Hernandez, a cherry picker, believes fear of being stopped or detained while traveling keeps many workers' homes.
Carlos Torres, who runs PLM Orchards in Wenatchee Valley, usually hires 60 workers during harvest. This year, he is only 35. If his cherries aren’t picked on time, he may not be able to pay back loans used to run the farm.
Retailers like Walmart and Costco buy from these growers but often set prices that don’t change with higher labor costs, putting more pressure on farmers.
Some farmers look to the H-2A visa program to hire seasonal workers legally. However, the rules requiring growers to house and transport workers make the program too costly for many.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-stockseller_ukr
Categories: South Dakota, Business, Crops, General