Dwindling immigration stresses tree-fruit industry

By Phil Ferolito / Yakima Herald-Republic

Over the past several years, farmers have complained that a dwindling labor force continues to stress production of the state’s multi-billion-dollar tree fruit industry.

Employment and market experts in the past have questioned whether such a shortage really exists.

But recent studies are indicating that our once robust low-wage labor force primarily from Mexico is in fact dwindling, or not keeping pace with industry growth.

A study by the Pew Research Center in Washington, D.C., shows that immigration from Mexico has drastically declined over recent years, with more returning to Mexico than coming to the U.S. since 2009.

It’s no secret that farmers long have relied on migrant workers who enter the country without proper documentation.

But the abundance of workers began to dwindle in the wake of the Great Recession. While the U.S. was slow to recover, Mexico’s economy began making strides and continues.

Now, farmers in the Yakima Valley as well as across the state find themselves competing with Mexico for labor, a trend that could partly undermine the efforts of guest worker programs.