Washington state’s apple orchards are bursting with promise this season, poised to match a record-breaking harvest. But behind the glossy fruit lies a growing challenge: finding enough hands to bring in the bounty.
Locally, farms have struggled to attract seasonal workers from nearby communities, leaving orchards at risk just as the picking window opens. For many, the H-2A visa program has become the lifeline to fill rosters. Yet that safety net comes with a price tag: application fees, housing requirements and rising wages have driven up the cost per worker, squeezing already tight margins.
"Last year we had to pay 20 percent more to secure our H-2A crew," says a grower in Yakima Valley, speaking on condition of anonymity. "If we drop workers, the fruit rots on the trees. But if costs keep climbing, small farms may not survive."
Some producers are experimenting with automation — from pick-assist robots to AI-powered sorting lines — hoping to reduce dependence on manual labor. Still, experts caution that machines can’t yet match the dexterity and care of human hands when selecting ripe apples.
The confluence of a bumper crop and a shrinking workforce highlights a broader shift in agricultural labor, with farms across the U.S. grappling with recruitment and retention. As Washington’s apple industry races against the calendar, growers, policymakers and tech innovators are searching for a balance that keeps orchards busy and businesses viable.
With the harvest in full swing, the question hangs over the industry: can Washington’s apple growers pick their record crop before the season slips away?
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Washington state’s apple crops threatened by shrinking workforce
cgtn.com
