Increasing pay substantially is not an option because of the already high labor costs compared to foreign producers. The sad fact is that relatively few non-immigrant workers have any interest in farm work. So pay increases would have little impact on the shortage of workers. As it is what US farmers currently pay is putting them at a severe competitive disadvantage. US farmers compete in a global marketplace against foreign producers who pay far less for labor. Mexican imports of berries have increased by 500% in ten years and some US farmers are relocating their farms to Mexico because of the vast differences in labor costs and regulations. Washington state farmers, particularly berry farmers, are losing ground against foreign competitors not just from Mexico, but Serbia, Chile, Peru and even China. In China, for example, much farm work is done by migrant workers where the average pay is $100 per month, far less than even Mexico.
