Tagged: Apple pickers

The Salt
12:25 am
Wed October 3, 2012

In Washington State, Picker Shortage Threatens Apple Boom

Originally published on Wed October 3, 2012 2:57 pm

In western Michigan, there aren't enough apples to pick because bad weather decimated 85 to 90 percent of the crop. But Washington state has the opposite problem — there's an abundance of apples, but not enough pickers.

This should be the happiest, busiest time of year in Washington apple orchards. But now — just as the peak of apple harvest is coming on — Broetje Orchards manager Roger Bairstow is wincing.

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Apple Picker Shortage
6:44 am
Mon October 1, 2012

Washingon's Massive Apple Crop Slow To Come Off Trees

Credit Photo Credit: Anna King
Photo of apple picker.

Washington state apple growers are harvesting the second-largest crop in history, but it appears there won't be enough workers to get the fruit off the trees quickly enough. The bulk of the region’s fruit will be picked in the next few weeks. As Correspondent Anna King reports, the labor shortage comes as apple prices are high.

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