Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIf America is overrun by low-skilled migrants...
If America is overrun by low-skilled migrants......then why are fruit and vegetables rotting in the fields waiting to be picked?
Print edition | United States Jul 27th 2017 | SANTA PAULA, CALIFORNIA
NEAR the massive packing warehouse at the headquarters of Limoneira, one of Americas largest lemon producers, sits a row of small white clapboard houses with neat front lawns and American flags flapping over their doorways.
The homes are rented to farm workers at 55% below the market rate in Santa Paula, California, a fertile farming area not far from the seaside homes of Malibu. From their front doors, workers can stroll to a bocce court, a credit union and a park where family reunions and birthdays are celebrated. These perks, along with competitive pay, used to be enough to keep Limoneiras fields of lemons and avocados full of workers.
Not any more, says Alex Teague, the companys senior vice-president. Though labour has long been tight, I have never seen it this bad, Mr Teague sighs from a chair in his office whose walls are covered in company memorabilia, including Limoneiras first cheque from 1893.
Across America, farms are experiencing similar troubles. In May Tom Nassif, the president of Western Growers, a farming association representing family farmers in Arizona, California, Colorado and New Mexico, travelled to Washington, DC, with 25 farm-owners. When Senator Dianne Feinstein of California asked how many were experiencing labour shortages, they all raised their hands.
https://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21725608-then-why-are-fruit-and-vegetables-rotting-fields-waiting-be-picked-if-america
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
6 replies, 1951 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (1)
ReplyReply to this post
6 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
If America is overrun by low-skilled migrants... (Original Post)
workinclasszero
Aug 2017
OP
LisaM
(27,811 posts)1. So why aren't they on the freaking news every night?
Yes, Rachel, Lawrence, I'm talking to you. Get these people on your shows.
LuckyLib
(6,819 posts)2. Hang on Americans, you are about to see your produce
prices go right through the roof! Any of you farmers or ranchers vote for the Trumpster? I didn't think so . . .
awesomerwb1
(4,268 posts)3. I agree.
It's happening all across the US. The racists are shooting themselves in the foot by demonizing immigrants because the economy will suffer (we'll all feel the hit).
hunter
(38,311 posts)4. GOP farmer/grower bullshit.
They just want a labor pool they can exploit.
If they can't find enough exploitable and disposable workers... that's a GOOD thing.
It's delicious irony that the dumb ass Republican farmer/grower's own party is screwing them.
lame54
(35,287 posts)5. Fuck those people for trying to make a better life for themselves
Not Ruth
(3,613 posts)6. Tax deductions
It rots, you deduct it at top market price from your profit. Zero income taxes.