California farmers are facing another labor shortage this year, and earlier in the season. Sabrina Hill reports.
Click to open or download audio report
Russel Efird grows grapes, almonds, and walnuts in Fresno County. He’s also a past president of the Fresno County Farm Bureau. He says labor shortages are affecting him this year.
He says with the labor being pulled to harvest fresh fruit to cover those labor shortages, it leaves few workers to do the ongoing maintenance needed by other crops. And that means growers will have to wait longer and pay more for that work.
He says the right comprehensive immigration bill could alleviate the problem and help turn things around for farmers.