The cherry season is coming to an end in northern Michigan and local farmers are gathering their troops to pick up all their apples this fall. But this year, they’re worried they might not have enough help.
The coronavirus pandemic has cast a key in an already variable season. Michigan farmers have had to strike a balance between fitness and protection while seeking to hire and retain foreign labor.
Many local operations rely heavily on Mexico and elsewhere, however, the coronavirus has prevented many from coming during the season. Some were nervous about traveling, other farms were worried about welcoming them due to fitness issues, and some arrived later than usual.
Francis Otto, director of Cherry Bay Orchard, said his team of temporary workers, more commonly Mexican, is “vital.”
“We couldn’t serve like without them,” Otto said. “Our first organization arrived a week before the border closed, they went smoothly.”
Cherry Bay has contracted H2A visa this season. Other farms have had staff issues.
“Especially those who don’t use the H2A program and just depend on people’s advent, have had trouble recruiting enough people,” Otto said.
The total challenge has a ripping effect on the fruit industry and Cherry Bay Orchards has heard that packaging services may be affected.
“He says they’re worried, especially the packaging chains, if they can’t keep a healthy team and pack the apples, we probably can’t bring the fruit to the market,” Otto said.
Jim Bardenhagen is the patriarch of his circle of relatives, a farm that focuses on cherries and apples. He says new regulations and decrees force him to control his staff for coronaviruses.
“We wonder if our staff will be able to continue to function or if they deserve to be quarantined,” Bardenhagen said.
He noted that usually, his employees live in on-site housing together, but that aspect has been complicated as he tries to figure out how to house them while maintaining social distance.
Bardenhagen and Otto will start harvesting their acres of apples very soon, and they hope this season will be fruitful.
“I have another 35 [workers] who are ready to come before the apple harvest, it’s the end of this month and we hope it goes well,” Otto said.