Who's going to Florida to help the pick oranges?

Question

In todays new:

Immigration worries blamed for shortage of migrant workers to pick oranges: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/local/sfl-fcitrus10jul10,0,463605.story?track=rss

Will Americans who need work fill this labor need?

How much should a job like picking oranges pay?

I like that idea of having prisoners do this work. Now that's cheap labor!

yars232c, I know that this is just one BIG coincidence. I’m just wondering what you all think about this situation.

Answer 1

If it's anything like most farm labor jobs, you could probably double the pay and it would only raise prices in the store by a few cents. I suspect if wages were increased enough, there wouldn't be any problem getting U.S. citizens to do the work.

A study (http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/uscir/binpapers/v3a-2martin.pdf) based on 1994 government statistics made the following observations:

"This means that total labor expenditures were about 8.6 percent of farm sales and, since farmers, on average, obtain about 25 percent of retail expenditures, a $1 purchase at the grocery store includes $0.25 for the farmer, and $0.02 for farm workers."

"The total increase in average consumer unit (a family of 2.6 persons) spending on food if farm wages were to rise by 50 percent as a result of immigration changes, and if all of the increased costs were passed through to consumers, would be about $16 per year. For 2.6 persons, 50 percent higher farm wages would increase an individual's produce expenditures by $6."

The absolute numbers are probably greater today but the relative percentages are probably not significantly different. For argument's sake, let's say those numbers have doubled and farm wages go up by 100% instead of 50%. If my total annual grocery bill went up by $24 dollars (2 bucks a month), I don't think I'd notice it much.

Answer 2

I have not seen any advertising about jobs in Florida.
Do they pay at least Minimum wage, and will they allow me at least 40 hours a week?
Will I get all the tax breaks the illegals got?
If so, where do I apply?
I have many family members that would love to move to Florida if there was work. And, I am an eleventh generation American, that is right part Indian.
Heck, here in Texas there are hardly any jobs for American laborers.

Answer 3

I would if I lived in Florida, wouldn't be the first time I did work like that. (I used to pick berries on a farm in Ok. for extra money during the summer.)
But I really do think that some states should start looking into having prisoners do this kind of work, definitely cheaper labor and it actually might help to lower crime rates.

Answer 4

Well, I can't go to Florida because I have kids about to start school and don't wish to ruin their education by dragging them all over the country. However, if similar jobs became available in my community I would jump at the chance to work hard in the fresh air and sunshine! It would be good for me! They could pay me no less than $6.00 per hour, though. Anything less would just be a waste of my time, considering that I have a family that needs me too. My time and work has value, and I will not give it away.

Answer 5

The average wage for skilled and unskilled farm workers is about $10 an hour, said Austin Perez, a labor specialist with the federation.

And Mexicans are only 10% of the pickers-that means 90% are not.

Our kids will do it easily and they will get a raise too. They haven't asked them yet-they are holding out.

Answer 6

I was already there a few years ago they said I couldn't speak the language so I didn't qualify.

You believe all the bull, don't you? You have no idea how many Americans do jobs that even the illegals won't do, and now even our government won't do.

And don't think that they aren't causing a shortage to get the Senate bill passed either - That's Jeb Bush's state you know.

You are so gullible, luckily your arguments have all been debunked.

Answer 7

Not to many Americans, that's for sure. These poor migrants are treated with such disrespect. The farmers give them inadequate housing. They work hard hours and have no medical insurance. They don't pay their FICA, which is a cop out by many employers. In the end, it will be robots.

Answer 8

How much does the job pay? If it pays a dollar an hour like Napoleon Dynamite got then forget it. But for the right price I'll do it. Or we could get the people on welfare in Florida to do it? Or maybe it is fair that they do NOTHING and get paid.

Answer 9

if the pay is right.Now think about what everyone just said.Thats the problem we have. Thats why Americans wont do those jobs because the pay isnt good.who in there right state of mind would pay anyone more than minium wage to pick oranges.think about how much more expensive it would be to buy that stuff if the wages were increased

Answer 10

Well, kid, unless you can remove the big IF from all the patriots here it looks like your OJ just dissapeared! Commercial interests in this business are not going to go broke to please the few little miserable posts here. I don't believe for one minute any one of us is picking oranges! Yeah, right!