No More Tomatoes for Mid-Atlantic's Largest Producer

[Popol Vuh]

Fred Eckel and Sons Farm in Newton Township, Lackawanna County, the last remaining commercial tomato farm in Pennsylvania now calls it quits.

Eckel says, "there are not enough migrant workers to pick tomatoes!"

"A lot of people think with immigration that we’re talking about immigrants taking jobs from others. Let me tell you, there is no local labor that is going to go out and harvest those tomatoes in 90-degree temperatures except our immigrant labor. They come here to do a job that no one else will do in this country."

"Eckel noted it has been years since he has seen local students visit his farm for work. The farm pays a high wage, about $16.59 per hour, but he noticed a decline in the number of workers, local and migrant, coming to the farm."


http://www.lancasterfarming.com/node/1171

[Donnachaidh]

1. Hey Ed -- why don't you ADVERTISE that hourly rate?

I'll bet he'll be surprised at who would show up.

[Popol Vuh]

4. You know Ed didn't advertise that rate how?

You know Ed personally? You're psychic? Or you're just commenting from a position of ignorance?

n/t

[truedelphi]

5. They don't advertise and they don't recruit

They also don't adapt.

There are people who would be willing to work if it wasn't such a long shift.

He needs to modify his stance and then see if what he is saying is true

[islandmkl]

2. call Lou Dobbs....he knows where to find the willing workers...

[thunder rising]

3. The Grapes of Wrath retold.

[KamaAina]

6. This has been kicking around for a while

speculation is the guy just wants to sell off the land to make room for some badly needed McMansions. :sarcasm:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3055714&mesg_id=3055714

[DS1]

7. That wouldn't be that much of a pay cut for me, but I wouldn't be living in

one of the most expensive states in the nation for property and rent. Hell, it would probably be an even break if I lost my tech job.