Current Events > Tomatoes Rotting in Fields as Result of Immigration Law

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STEELE A sponsor of Alabamas tough new immigration law told desperate tomato farmers Monday that he wont change the law, even though they told him that their crops are rotting in the field and they are at risk of losing their farms.

Republican state Sen. Scott Beason of Gardendale met with about 50 growers, workers, brokers and business people Monday at a tomato packing shed on Chandler Mountain in northeast Alabama. They complained that the new law, which went into effect Thursday, scared off many of their migrant workers at harvest time.

The tomatoes are rotting on the vine, and there is very little we can do, said Chad Smith, who farms tomatoes with his uncle, father and brother.

My position is to stay with the law as it is, Beason told the farmers.

Beason helped write and sponsor a law the Legislature enacted in June to crack down on illegal immigration. It copied portions of laws enacted in Arizona, Georgia and other states, including allowing police to detain people indefinitely if they dont have legal status. Beason and other proponents said the law would help free up jobs for Alabamians in a state suffering through 9.9 percent unemployment.

The farmers said the some of their workers may have been in the country illegally, but they were the only ones willing to do the work.

This law will be in effect this entire growing season, Beason told the farmers. He said he would talk to his congressman about the need for a federal temporary worker program that would help the farmers next season.

There wont be no next growing season, farmer Wayne Smith said.

Does America know how much this is going to affect them? Theyll find out when they go to the grocery store. Prices on produce will double, he said.

Lana Boatwright said she and her husband had used the same crews for more than a decade, but only eight of the 48 workers they needed showed up after the law took effect.

My husband and I take them to the grocery store at night and shop for them because they are afraid they will be arrested, she said.

Chad Smith said his family would normally have 12 trucks working the fields on Monday, but only had the workers for three. He estimated his family could lose up to $150,000 this season because of a lack of help to pick the crop.

We will be lucky to be in business next year, he said.

Tomato farmer Brian Cash said the migrant workers who would normally be on Chandler Mountain have gone to other states with less restrictive laws.

After talking with famers at the tomato shed, Beason visited the Smith familys farm. Leroy Smith, Chad Smiths father, challenged the senator to pick a bucket full of tomatoes and experience the labor-intensive work.

Beason declined but promised to see what could be done to help farmers while still trying to keep illegal immigrants out of Alabama.

Smith threw down the bucket he offered Beason and said, There, I figured it would be like that.

The farmers said they get about $10 a box for their tomatoes. The produce box costs $1, the workers get $2, and the remainder goes to cover the farmers other costs and provide their income.

The U.S. Justice Department, civil rights groups and others have challenged the law. U.S. District Judge Sharon Blackburn allowed major portions of the law to take effect Thursday. The opponents asked the judge Friday to put the law on hold while they appeal her ruling. Attorneys for the state filed court papers Monday asking the judge to leave the law in effect during the appeal.

Does America know how much this is going to affect them? Theyll find out when they go to the grocery store. Prices on produce will double, he said.

Does America know how much this is going to affect them? Theyll find out when they go to the grocery store. Prices on produce will double

Its also fucked up that a country as rich as the USA cant pay workers fair wages so someone will pick those tomatoes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTT2fNyKgUE

Elections have consequences.

This is only going to get worse if Trump wins. He claims he'll deport tens of millions day one. This will happen across the country if that happens.

Good luck buying produce in 2025.

I work for the USDA and literally over 90% of the line workers at the poultry plants I inspect are immigrants. Most of the sanitation crews are undocumented. I tried explaining to my dad whats going to happen to prices if they go full-blown militant on deportations and its like he refused to understand it.

Does America know how much this is going to affect them? Theyll find out when they go to the grocery store. Prices on produce will double, he said.

I work for the USDA and literally over 90% of the line workers at the poultry plants I inspect are immigrants. Most of the sanitation crews are undocumented. I tried explaining to my dad whats going to happen to prices if they go full-blown militant on deportations and its like he refused to understand it.

Rednecks want tough laws on immigration but don't think about the actual consequences of tough laws on immigration. Fuck em

Personal experience tends to change peoples minds. Once it affects them, then they'll start to understand.

Don't worry when farms start failing, they'll come crying to the feds for a bailout instead of holding their own leadership accountable.

Does America know how much this is going to affect them? Theyll find out when they go to the grocery store. Prices on produce will double, he said.

Don't worry when farms start failing, they'll come crying to the feds for a bailout instead of holding their own leadership accountable.

Tomatoes

Salsa
Salads
Sandwiches
Juices
Chili
Burgers

All these foods just got more expensive.

This is why conservatives are also in favor of child labor. Because that's that only answer to how they would make up for the loss of labor if their immigration plans succeeded.

Pay decent wages.

Don't worry. I'm sure there are just a legion of young white men lining up for those jobs, right? Guys? Guys? Where'd you go?

This is why conservatives are also in favor of child labor. Because that's that only answer to how they would make up for the loss of labor if their immigration plans succeeded.

Knock knock
Who's there?
The consequences of our own actions