Crying wolf' Most agricultural economists say spot shortages can cause local turmoil in an industry that otherwise enjoys a surplus of farm workers. The GAO looked at 20 fruit and vegetable counties and found that 19 had unemployment rates higher than the U.S. average. Growers want an oversupply to minimize their risk. That's the best scenario for them. Surveys of workers have found double-digit declines.
Worker advocates say the typical undocumented laborer makes minimum wage or slightly above.
Growers say low labor costs ensure low prices at the supermarket. Worker advocates say higher pay will force growers to mechanize more, but growers say the perfect fruit Americans demand can't be picked by a machine.