Summer Fruits and vegetables ripen in US farmland, the work of harvesting will depend on illegal immigrants.
Americans are sharply divided on what to do with illegal immigration in the United States. The Conservatives are severely critical of the Obama administration to close the controversial law, Arizona, intended to identify the extradition request and more illegal immigrants, who critics say take American jobs.
But farmers across the country have a different view. As Americans have moved from agriculture, agricultural employers say they have come to rely on illegal immigrants to harvest fresh fruit and vegetables in the nation’s dinner tables.
Re: US Farmers Depend on Illegal Immigrants
Not that I am against illegal immigration, but Americans should not be divided on this issue, until they are divided on the price they are willing to pay for produce at the local grocery store.
We need illegal immigrants at farms, because farmers are not even willing to pay minimum wage to these workers. It's because big giant grocery markets want to buy the produce at the cheapest rate possible, in fact it's these retail outlets that set the purchasing price of produce from the farmers. They want to buy cheap, so they can sell cheap, because you and me as customers are so frugal that we are willing to switch our buying location if we can save just 1 dollar on our groceries.
Tomato farm workers are paid as little one cent per pound. That means they have to pick 4000 lbs of tomato to make 40 dollars. You know what that means? That means that if you and me are willing to pay just one more cent per pound of tomatoes then technically these farm workers' pay can be doubled. But that is not going to happen, because we want cheap grocery.
Re: US Farmers Depend on Illegal Immigrants
And British farmers depend on EU Eastern European people.
Re: US Farmers Depend on Illegal Immigrants
And in Karachi, families used to hire Bengals because they were illegal immigrants and cheap to hire
Re: US Farmers Depend on Illegal Immigrants
And the current situation is going to be like that - Pakistanies expelled from Malaysia will get work in BD textile industry as they will be cheaper than the locals?
Re: US Farmers Depend on Illegal Immigrants
Not that I am against illegal immigration, but Americans should not be divided on this issue, until they are divided on the price they are willing to pay for produce at the local grocery store.
We need illegal immigrants at farms, because farmers are not even willing to pay minimum wage to these workers. It's because big giant grocery markets want to buy the produce at the cheapest rate possible, in fact it's these retail outlets that set the purchasing price of produce from the farmers. They want to buy cheap, so they can sell cheap, because you and me as customers are so frugal that we are willing to switch our buying location if we can save just 1 dollar on our groceries.
Tomato farm workers are paid as little one cent per pound. That means they have to pick 4000 lbs of tomato to make 40 dollars. You know what that means? That means that if you and me are willing to pay just one more cent per pound of tomatoes then technically these farm workers' pay can be doubled. But that is not going to happen, because we want cheap grocery.
The exact point Southie made in the Walmart Costco debatathon.
Re: US Farmers Depend on Illegal Immigrants
Not that I am against illegal immigration, but Americans should not be divided on this issue, until they are divided on the price they are willing to pay for produce at the local grocery store.
We need illegal immigrants at farms, because farmers are not even willing to pay minimum wage to these workers. It's because big giant grocery markets want to buy the produce at the cheapest rate possible, in fact it's these retail outlets that set the purchasing price of produce from the farmers. They want to buy cheap, so they can sell cheap, because you and me as customers are so frugal that we are willing to switch our buying location if we can save just 1 dollar on our groceries.
Tomato farm workers are paid as little one cent per pound. That means they have to pick 4000 lbs of tomato to make 40 dollars. You know what that means? That means that if you and me are willing to pay just one more cent per pound of tomatoes then technically these farm workers' pay can be doubled. But that is not going to happen, because we want cheap grocery.
Very concise explanation. Thanks.
Let's say the consumer agreed to pay the 1 cent more for tomatoes.....how would that impact things? Workers would double their pay......and then......?
Re: US Farmers Depend on Illegal Immigrants
Very concise explanation. Thanks. Let's say the consumer agreed to pay the 1 cent more for tomatoes.....how would that impact things? Workers would double their pay......and then......?
My argument was based on the statements made by OP - " the work of harvesting will depend on illegal immigrants - and, Americans are sharply divided on what to do with illegal immigration in the United States ".
Doubling the pay was just a perspective I was trying to build. What I actually meant is that when liberals and conservatives, both act like cheap consumers and want to save money, then the divide on this issue is just a political tug of war. We the consumers create the dependency on illegal immigrants. What retail giants and the farmers do, is to cater our cheapness. If we change our thought process, then the dependency on illegal immigration is going to go away.
Re: US Farmers Depend on Illegal Immigrants
My argument was based on the statements made by OP - " the work of harvesting will depend on illegal immigrants - and, Americans are sharply divided on what to do with illegal immigration in the United States ".
Doubling the pay was just a perspective I was trying to build. What I actually meant is that when liberals and conservatives, both act like cheap consumers and want to save money, then the divide on this issue is just a political tug of war. We the consumers create the dependency on illegal immigrants. What retail giants and the farmers do, is to cater our cheapness. If we change our thought process, then the dependency on illegal immigration is going to go away.
When I brought up this very point in the Costco vs Sam's Club thread, you asked me why I have to bring politics into every issue. And I responded - this is not about politics. It is about human decency.
And no, true liberals do not act like cheap consumers. They would rather pay a bit more so that they don't subsidize corporations that cut corners and treat their employees like crap. Conser9care about nothing but the bottom line.
Liberals want to hike the minimum wage. So yes, they are willing to pay more for goods so workers can have a livable wage. Liberals want Universal healthcare. And don't thi k in terms of I have got mine. To heck with others.
True liberals vote against what may be perceived as their own self interest - such as voting for a tax hike that might hit them in the pocketbook. So that the playing field is level.
I have no idea how you got the idea liberals and conservatives go for the cheapest goods. I thi k you confuse Moderates (the Hillary crowd) with liberals.
How about them Moderates?
Thank you.
Re: US Farmers Depend on Illegal Immigrants
Very concise explanation. Thanks. Let's say the consumer agreed to pay the 1 cent more for tomatoes.....how would that impact things? Workers would double their pay......and then......?
If w pay one cent more per pound, that does not mean that.one cent will go directly to the workers. Assuming we are willing to pay the amount that corresponds to doubling worker pay. Your statement t followed by question is a bit puzzling - "workers wouod double their pay .. and then ..?"
And then they get to live a bit better. Not sure what the intent of your question was. Or the point you were making (not trying to be rude, I am truly puzzled that doubling workers measly pay does not count as significant in your book).