Reaction to Farm Labor Announcement : S.D. County Growers Take Wait-See Attitude

San Diego County growers voiced guarded optimism over federal rules announced Monday that will ease the burden on migrant farm laborers trying to gain guest worker status.

“It will help,” said Pete Mackauf, general manager of Ukegawa Brothers, a coastal cucumber and tomato grower. “But whether it will help in a really significant and meaningful way, it’s too early to tell.”

Previously, the Immigration and Naturalization Service had allowed laborers into the United States only after they provided documented proof that they had worked in past harvests. But agency officials announced Monday that they will now allow farm workers into the country on their word that they have been employed here in the past.

Based on such assurances, the workers will be given 90-day temporary work authorization cards. Once in the United States, however, they must collect the documents proving their past employment status and turn them over to the INS before the 90 days expire.

Effect on Crops

Growers in some regions have complained that confusion over new immigration reforms has kept migrant workers at home. The resulting labor shortage, especially in parts of Northern California and Oregon, has resulted in some crops rotting in the fields.

San Diego County farmers say the labor shortages have not been as severe locally, in large part because summer is a slow period for agriculture in the region. But growers said they were becoming increasingly concerned that labor shortages might affect their operations as they begin gearing up in August and September for the winter harvest.

“We were getting apprehensive,” Mackauf said. “But we hadn’t hit any panic button, like some of the growers in Northern California, Oregon and Washington who were reporting crops lost.”

While the growers usually have to turn away labor this time of year, there was not a glut in recent weeks because of the new immigration law approved by Congress last year, Mackauf said.

He expressed hope that news of the new INS regulations will reach the villages and towns in rural Mexico that provide the bulk of the labor force from south of the border.

“We may see a delayed reaction to this,” Mackauf said. “On the other hand, we may see a rush. I hope that will be the case.”

While the new rules should help vegetable farmers, the county’s flower growers say they probably will see few concrete benefits. With the bulk of their operation indoors, the flower growers are less seasonably affected and generally employ a long-term work force, according to Eric Larson, general manager of the San Diego County Flower Auction.

Avocado and citrus farmers, however, welcomed the news.

“Certainly we’re pleased to see it,” said Vic Pankey, a citrus grower with tracts in Bonsall and Borrego Springs. “I think it’s going to make things a lot easier for all of us.”

Mackauf said growers are still concerned that migrants who earn agricultural-worker status will eventually be wooed to more lucrative jobs in construction, the garment industry, restaurants and hotels.

“Just because you get a guy a legal card is no guarantee he is going to stay on the farm,” Mackauf said.