At a recent California State Society breakfast in Washington, D.C., I listened to Rep. Doug LaMalfa and a panel of agribusiness experts talk about their work on the next U.S. Farm Bill. When one of the panelists mentioned that they grew strawberries, it caught my attention. I was especially interested in the discussion of technology to aid in strawberry harvests. When the panel asked for questions, I quickly rose to my feet.
“Based on my 30-minute experience harvesting strawberries in Stanislaus County in the summer of 1977, I strongly support robotics and other field automation to aid in the harvesting of strawberries,” I said.
“My back still aches from my 30-minute harvesting ordeal nearly 50 years ago.”
As might be expected, I got a few laughs from the audience of approximately 50 people. My experience harvesting strawberries gave me firsthand experience in the importance of management and skilled labor to California’s strawberry crop. As a former U.S. diplomat, labor economist, and journalist, I am quick to remind my audiences of my experience as a fieldhand in California. Let me explain how it happened.
In the summer of 1977, I worked for an agribusiness company in Merced County. I got a 3-month summer job at my university. I was an undergraduate student in agricultural economics at a university in the Southeast. It was my first extended stay in California.
Though I worked in Merced County, I lived in Turlock. My apartment building was across the street from what was then called Stanislaus County Community College. On a good day, it was a 20-minute drive from Turlock to my office in Merced.
One week a friend from the apartment building told me about an “easy way” we could earn some extra money during the weekend. I was interested in “easy” money. How were we to make this “easy” money?
“Strawberries,” my friend said.
“Eating strawberries?” I asked.
“Harvesting strawberries,” he said. I told him it did not sound like “easy” money.
He described the work as “supervising” laborers who were harvesting the strawberries. I had supervision experience. I spoke Spanish. I was qualified, I told him.
“All we have to do is stand around for a few hours,” my friend said. Then he said the magic words: “We get paid in cash.”
Our “easy” money in the California strawberry field began on an early Saturday morning. We arrived on time. We met our contact, an older harvesting manager. Things were running smooth, I thought.
The older harvesting manager had some news for us. The laborers were late to show for the harvesting. Until they arrived, he would need us to harvest strawberries. I was ready to leave.
“It’s only for a few minutes,” the harvesting manager told us.
I was ready to go back to my air-conditioned apartment. My friend needed this “easy” money more than me.
My friend urged me to help harvest strawberries until the workers arrived. I agreed on the condition that I supervise him harvesting the strawberries. At this point, the harvesting manager entered the conversation. “I need both of you to harvest,” he said rather sternly. “Now,” he said bluntly.
Fearing for our safety, my friend and I began harvesting strawberries. The harvest manager disappeared. My friend and I were happy to see him go. After 30 minutes, we also disappeared.
Some folks have psychedelic experiences in California. I had a strawberry experience. Based on my 30-minute experience 50 years ago, I strongly support robotics and other field automation for harvesting strawberries.
Seriously, the high cost of farm labor and the high cost of fuel dictate the use of field automation, including robotics, to help workers bring strawberries to market. Robotics can help workers avoid exhaustion and possible injuries. Lowering production and labor costs with technology helps producers, workers, and consumers.
The thought of robotics in California’s strawberry fields has another important benefit. It lessens my back ache from 50 years ago.
James Patterson is a labor economist, journalist, and former U.S. diplomat. He resides in the Washington, D.C. area. He can be reached at jepdiplomat@gmail.com.