Thread: Migrant labor is fruitful

Migrant labor is fruitful
The Evening Sun
Article Launched:10/09/2006 11:34:04 AM EDT

By ANGIE MASON

For The Evening Sun

Adams County fruit growers have so far managed to escape labor shortages plaguing other areas because of issues stemming from immigration enforcement, but some farmers say they're worried about the future.

A crackdown on immigration enforcement has caused problems for some fruit farmers who depend on migrant workers for labor during the busy growing seasons. Though farmers in areas including California and New York are reporting difficulty finding enough workers to pull fruit from trees, Adams County growers say they're doing fine during this apple harvest.

"I haven't heard any desperation calls at this time," said Brad Hollabaugh, one of the owners of Hollabaugh Bros. Fruit Farm and Market in Biglerville. "I didn't hear anyone saying they didn't have help or didn't have enough help to get the work done. For our business, we've had just enough help to get the work done and no more."

Aside from family and a few full-time employees, Hollabaugh's crew of about 20 is largely made up of immigrants. About half could be considered migratory, the other half live in Adams County year-round, he said. Many return year after year, he said.

Ed McDannell, who has a crew of about eight to 10 migrant workers who harvest 100 acres of fruit (about 75 acres of apples) at McDannell's Fruit Farm and Market, said this year's hiring went better than expected.

"Actually, we anticipated a problem here with the crackdown on immigration and everything, but I'd have to say from my own point of view we've had more people looking for work this year than we've had for quite some time," he said.

Mark O'Neill, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, said sporadic labor shortages have been reported at farms in central and northern Pennsylvania, but not in Adams County.

Fruit farms in western New York and along Lake Ontario are reporting major labor shortages, about as much as 30 percent or more, said Peter Gregg, spokesman for the New York Apple Association.

"There's some panicked apple growers. They're worried that they're not going to have enough help to get the fruit off the trees," Gregg said.

In New York, immigration enforcement officers have targeted agriculture, he said.

"It's close to the border. We have a lot of orchards near New York City, and they haven't bothered with any of the orchards there. Near Buffalo, there's an international border and a lot of (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents that have nothing better to do than pick on farmers," he said.

Dean Boyd, a spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, acknowledged that enforcement efforts are being stepped up, but said it's not targeting farmers.

"It really spans the economy and we're not necessarily picking on any sector of the economy, we're just enforcing the laws and we have been stepping up our effort and using some new tools," he said.

Relationships with farms

Adams County's stable supply of workers can partly be attributed to a good working relationship between family-run farms in the county and migrant workers, many of whom return to the same farms each year, O'Neill said.

David Benner, owner of El Vista Orchards in Fairfield, said his farm has no trouble recruiting migrant workers who come back year after year and notify family and friends of jobs available.

He hires about 70 people, he said.

Migrant workers know that in Pennsylvania, Adams County is the place to start looking for a job, he said.

"They know this is the center. É Over half the apples grown in the state are grown in this county," he said.

Plus, there hasn't really been an immigration crackdown there, Benner said.

"For whatever reason É they haven't made themselves active in this area," he said of immigration officers.

Farmers insist they work hard to ensure their laborers are legal, but admit there are document forgeries.

"I think all the growers are vigilant in getting the proper identification," McDannell said.

Concern about the future

Though Adams County farmers have been able to keep a steady supply of workers, some said they're worried they will not be so lucky in the future.

Congress recently approved the construction of a 700-mile, double-layer fence along the U.S., Mexico border.

The fruit farm industry has been lobbying Congress to pass some sort of immigration reform plan that includes a provision to allow farms to hire migrant laborers as guest workers, Gregg said. But none has been passed.

O'Neill said there is some concern that local ordinances – like one passed in Hazleton that allows businesses' permits to be stripped if they are found to employ illegal workers – will scare off not only illegal workers, but also legal workers who don't want to deal with the "anti-immigrant" environment.

"There was tension in the (Hazleton) area for anyone who didn't look like they were originally from Hazleton," he said. Altoona is considering a similar ordinance.

Hollabaugh said he's concerned about the future of immigration reform laws.

"My fear is the hype over terrorism, illegal immigration and this near hysteria about illegal immigrants É is going to generate a law that will create criminals out of honest, hardworking people who own businesses and people who work for those businesses," he said.

http://www.eveningsun.com/localnews/ci_4464985

A>I think all the growers are vigilant in getting the proper identification," McDannell said.

Though Adams County farmers have been able to keep a steady supply of workers, some said they're worried they will not be so lucky in the future.

B>Congress recently approved the construction of a 700-mile, double-layer fence along the U.S., Mexico border.

Well look guys. If A is true and you've kept plenty of workers. Why would you become suddenly unlucky if B comes true?

Well look guys. If A is true and you've kept plenty of workers. Why would you become suddenly unlucky if B comes true?

Because A is not true???? Did I get it right??

I am so sick of America being likened to a jobsite! We have no obligation to these people! Stupidity is rampant in America today.

D.W.