Growing Crops in Florida is Part Toil and Triumph

By Paul Rusnak|October 21, 2011

The work that goes into growing crops successfully here in Florida is hard enough. Take away the labor force that helps get the product from the field to the packinghouse, and what do you have? A big problem. No doubt about it, labor is top of mind for growers, and has been for a while. Back in July, we asked Florida Grower eNews subscribers: What issue are you and your operation most concerned about? Labor came back as the landslide winner over other pressing matters such as pest and diseases, fuel costs, foreign competition, and water.

The hot topic grabbed the spotlight during the early fall industry gatherings like the Florida Tomato Conference and the FFVA Annual Convention, and will be vetted further during this month’s Florida Ag Expo. All the attention and anxiety certainly are warranted. Today’s producers are facing unprecedented challenges in their ability to procure and maintain a steady and reliable labor crew during harvest season. The scary thing is, a remedy to fix the broken system doesn’t seem to be in the offing.

Playing Politics

The threat of a national E-Verify program is looming, and the effects of uncertainty are being felt on farms everywhere. Many migrant workers are not taking their chance on the legislative roll of the dice going in their favor. Growers we’ve spoken with in the last year have expressed the increased difficulty in having enough workers on hand to pick crops. A Florida Grower eNews reader poll sent out in mid-spring supported that claim, with 60% of respondents saying they had trouble accessing labor for harvest season. The problem, seemingly exacerbated by legislators who’ve lost sight of the big picture, certainly is not unique to the Sunshine State.
Some patchwork solutions, up to this point, have fallen flat. Georgia’s attempt to supplement fleeing migrant laborers with probationers turned into a punchline. One Florida grower commented recently on GrowingProduce.com about his own operation’s experience in trying out “local” labor. Here is what he had to say: “We worked with our local Sheriff this past season. There was a project to get probationary people back into society. We had 17 show up first day. By the end of the week, we were down to three. They said the work was too hard and hot; so they preferred to sit at the halfway house.” That’s the reality.

Working To Find A Way

So, who’s going to do the work and what’s the alternative? This month’s cover story is dedicated to probing the consequences of a mandatory E-Verify, the hazards of H-2A, and uncovering what growers need to know and actions to take. The bottom line: Our collective blood, sweat, and tears are needed to make an impact. Without the effort, crops — as well as livelihoods — could be left to die on the vine.