FINLEY — A labor shortage is putting the local pear industry in a bind as packing houses search for workers to continue processing fruit.
Scully Packing, a family-owned business that has been in the pear picking and packing business since 1974, is contending with several problems common among pear harvesters, said company owner, Toni Scully.
But, as Scully points out, the problems this year come in an unusual combination a labor shortage, a late harvest and increased competition for workers from county grape growers.
“We have never seen a year like this,” Scully said Friday. “The lateness of the season combined with the lack of labor and the early squeeze placed upon us by the grape harvest has created the perfect storm.”
Despite a special legislation benchmark program unique to Lake County, which allows 16- and 17-year-olds to work in the packing houses when school is not in session, Scully said, “People don”t understand the magnitude of the numbers of workers we need in a relatively short amount of time.”
There is a three-week window of opportunity for picking and packing the pears, Scully said.
“In Lake County this is a widespread problem we currently have 40 percent to 50 percent less pickers than normal,” Scully said.
Individual labor contractors provide crews of pickers for the pear harvest; it”s Scully”s opinion that the labor shortage can be chalked up to immigration policy.
“The clock is ticking and there is a real possibility that 30 percent of the pears won”t get picked,” said Scully.
Scully is putting out a call for workers and volunteers who would be willing to work in the packing houses for eight to 10 hours daily in the heat.
She said her company and some other packing sheds would be willing to pay $7.65 to $7.95 an hour for individuals to work in assisting them at this critical time as sorters, machine operators, box assemblers and folders, and other miscellaneous jobs.
Anyone interested should call Scully Packing immediately at 263-7327 in Finley or 263-7373 in Scotts Valley, or Adobe Creek Packing at 279-4204.
Contact Cynthia Davis at cdavis@record-bee.com.
