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Save County Cherry Crop

Click to see original imageUtah County’s sweet cherry crop is on – and the word is out that much of the fruit may rot on the trees for want of pickers. That is a sad commentary. To allow delicious and valuable fruit to waste would be a serious loss, and a reflection on modern work habits and our ability to organize to handle the situation. Part of the problem seems to be a shortage of migrant workers to pick fruit. Orchardists and the Farm Bureau claim a crackdown by the Immigration and Naturalization office has siphoned off alien help. Be that as it may, don’t we have local workers who can be mobilized to do the job? In the same issue of the Herald (yesterday’s) which reported on the cherry crisis was an article on the proclaiming of ”l-lire Our Youth Week” by mayors of Provo and Orem. The help of employeers and homeowners was solicited in finding jobs for the young people. A spokesman for the Utah Department of Employment Security’s Job Service said: “The need for jobs for the youth in this area has reached epidemic proportions.” If we have that many unemployed youth, why can’t they handle a good segment of the fruit-picking job? Surely there are other work sources that can be tapped also – non-employed adults in households of the county, including educators and others free in summer months ; shift workers with non-shift hours available; business employees who can work in early morning or late aftemoons. We recall years ago when scores of downtown Provo business people mobilized for offhour fruit-picking duty. In some cases the company manager and all of his help joined the forces in the orchards. They didn’t save the crop by themselves, of course, but they injected spirit and willingness that dramatized the farm labor shortage and helped the cause significantly. A Payson woman reported going into an orchard Thursday to pick cherries for her own family. in one hour, she picked 50 pounds of the fruit which would have eamed her about $3.50 for the hour at the going rate for picking. Not union scale, but well over the minimum wage, and certainly illustrating the potential for supplementing the family income. Naturally some training and supervision are necessary. But with reasonable effort and application of talents, most willing, competent, and intelligent persons can learn to pick cherries with reasonable care and efficiency. It isn’t our purpose to suggest mechanics for getting the fruit growers and willing workers together – although we can envision roles for such agencies and individuals as Job Service, school leaders, Chambers of Commerce or other civic groups, farm leadership groups, and other potential volunteers. What we’re saying is that we think the job can be done – and that it will be a shame if cherries and other fruits are allowed to waste for lack of workers. Leadership, willingness and cooperation are the key words. The Herald stands ready to publicize the efforts of farm – and – community – oriented programs, serving as a communications medium to “get the word out” to the people. Let us hear from you.