Half Moon Bay Review/Julia Reis, 9/5/13. "Speier harvests opinion on Coastside farm tour", Congresswoman discusses farm, immigration bills.
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| Brussels sprouts from Giusti Farms |
Speier then met with several local farmers at the Farm Bureau on Main Street. She opened the meeting by saying she wanted to know how she could be helpful to them. They spent an hour discussing issues relating to the immigration bill and farm bill, much of which revolved around a lack of qualified workers to tend to local crops. According to the California Farm Bureau Federation, 61 percent of farmers had a labor shortage in California last year, and farmers present at last week’s meeting vouched for the scale of the problem.
Speier then went on a tour of four Half Moon Bay farms. She visited
agricultural operations owned by John Giusti, David Lea, John Muller and
Rocket Farms. Giusti took Speier out to the Brussels sprouts
fields and showed her the processing and packaging area. Giusti said he
struggled to harvest his green bean crop this year as he was only able
to get a crew of five people to handpick the beans when he usually gets
15. He fell behind on picking and switched to a mechanical harvest as a
result, which he says is “not as efficient” as handpicking." Read article.
Related - RYOT News/San JoseMercury News/ Aaron Kinney, 11/13/12. "Half Moon Bay farmers John Giusti and David Lea once sold about 80
percent of their sprouts to the frozen market. But in the past decade
the ratio has flipped, and they now sell that much or more of their crop
fresh. Most of the sprouts are packed in Salinas, Calif., and trucked
east. The rest make their way to grocery stores, farmers markets and
restaurants closer to their farms."
Posted by Kathy Meeh
5 comments:
Jackie Spier and Jerry Hill are the only 2 people in Government who sit down and talk to people and get things done.
Our own City Council will not even return an email or phone call.
I think the Mexican farm laborers are some of the hardest working people on the planet.
Its a noble endeavor on their part. They break their backs to put food on our tables. Its right up there some where along the lines of a mothers love.
They are paid pittance. Almost selfless. If they are willing to do the hard work to make the basics of life work, they deserve the immigration they so desire.
In the upcoming movie, the role of Local Lib will be played by the late Charlton "Moses" Heston.
Speaking of Charlton Heston. I much like him in the role of Judah Ben-hur
Despite all personal self interest, one should always help those who seek it.
Nah, I see you with the beard, tall and commanding on a hillside, parting the Red Sea, hearing voices, in a sheet.
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