A recent Pew Research report found that more Mexican immigrants are now leaving the U.S. than coming into the country, citing tougher enforcement of immigration laws and the slow economic recovery here in the U.S. (The report accounted for both documented and undocumented immigrants).
With fewer workers, farm owners say costs are rising and they often must leave unpicked fruit to rot in the fields. Many producers are even opting to leave the U.S. for countries with lower costs and fewer regulations, said Tom Nassif, CEO of Western Growers, a trade organization that represents farm owners both in the U.S. and abroad.
“We’re pretty much begging for workers. It’s very bleak,” he said.
The competition for workers has sent average farm worker wages up 5% in the past year, to $12 an hour, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture figures. That’s $2 higher than California’s $10 minimum wage, with some farmers saying they pay as much as $15 an hour, according to Nassif.
And costs keep rising. Two weeks ago, California expanded its overtime rules to include migrant farm workers. That means farm owners must pay one and half times the employee’s regular rate after they have worked a certain number of consecutive hours.
With increased competition for labor, workers are also asking for and winning better working conditions, such as a 15-minute shade break for each hour of work.
“If they don’t like how they’re being treated or what they’re being paid, they’ll just go to another farm,” said Nassif.
Still, the increased pay, improved working conditions and overtime benefits have failed to attract many American workers.
“Of the 300 workers I have in the field, two are Americans,” said Joe Del Bosque, a farm owner in Firebaugh, California.
So much for Obama’s open border silliness. Older folks on fixed income, be prepared for a lot higher food costs. But hey, now you can put your money where your mouth is (literally and figuratively)… Looks like even the loaves of bread past the expiration date will be more expensive.
