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 All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

TexasTowelie

(111,279 posts)
Wed Nov 29, 2017, 05:00 AM Nov 2017

Declining workforce leaves Smith Frozen Foods short-shifted

Finding enough workers is getting to be more of a challenge for Michael Lesko at Smith Frozen Foods.

The company, which processes and packages frozen vegetables near Weston, is capable of storing more than 130 million pounds of product on site, including corn, lima beans, onions and carrots. Harvest season typically begins around June 1 and runs through the end of November, when the demand for seasonal labor is at its strongest.

Lesko, director of human resources for Smith Frozen Foods, said the plant has roughly 100 regular employees and typically hires another 200 seasonal workers through harvest. Those positions, however, are becoming more difficult to fill, he said, which has left the plant short up to 10 workers on any given shift over the past year.

“It’s been difficult keeping people, by all means,” Lesko said. “We were looking for people to start in June and work through November, but that’s becoming more and more rare.”

Read more: http://www.eastoregonian.com/eo/local-news/20171124/declining-workforce-leaves-smith-frozen-foods-short-shifted

2 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Declining workforce leaves Smith Frozen Foods short-shifted (Original Post) TexasTowelie Nov 2017 OP
Same problems here-- farms and restaurants constantly looking for help... TreasonousBastard Nov 2017 #1
gee, maybe they should raise wages Astraea Nov 2017 #2

TreasonousBastard

(43,049 posts)
1. Same problems here-- farms and restaurants constantly looking for help...
Wed Nov 29, 2017, 05:40 AM
Nov 2017

major demographic changes and current immigration idiocy are at the root of most of it.

Latest Discussions»Region Forums»Oregon»Declining workforce leave...