Ag leaders push for immigration reform
California agriculture can't survive without foreign-born workers, leaders say

I think this story is the same in all states, all farmers need these workers and can't survive without them.    - - Donna Poisl

By DONNA JONES - Santa Cruz Sentinel

WATSONVILLE - In California, 98 percent of farm laborers are immigrants and two-thirds lack authorization to work in the U.S.

The U.S. Department of Labor statistics underscore the reason the California State Board of Food and Agriculture spent more than four hours on the topic of immigration reform Tuesday at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds.

The lack of reform and heightened enforcement, along with barriers to housing and transportation, are putting California's nearly $40 billion agricultural industry at risk, speakers told the board.
Click on the HEADLINE above to read the rest of this story! This is only a small part of it.