The California State Board of Food and Agriculture spent more than four hours yesterday discussing the topic of immigration reform, and what foreign workers mean to the state’s farming industry. U.S. Department of Labors statistics show that in California, 98% of farm workers are immigrants, with 2/3 of that number lacking authorization to work in the U.S. The agricultural industry in California relies heavily on this group, and crackdowns on immigration have caused serious labor shortages in multiple counties. Napa County is one of the hardest hit, and officials say it may get worse. It was suggested by one member that more reliance on local labor should be taken. However, statistics show nationally that workers directed to farming jobs by state agencies are very unresponsive to the offers.
