General Discussion

panader0

(25,816 posts)

20. In the early 70's when I lived in Eugene, Oregon,

Sat Sep 9, 2017, 06:18 PM

Sep 2017

I picked cherries for a guy named Avon Babb in his orchard right next to the
Willamette River. Me and my two buddies ate our breakfast and lunch in the
trees. We got a buck fifty (I think) per flat. Maraschino, had to have the stems
attached. All of the other pickers were Mexicans, the men, boys and girls in the
trees, and the older women and babies on blankets in the shade below.

They were so hospitable to us, feeding us, and one night inviting us to their
cabins for venison tacos and music (and beer). I have been a bricklayer for
forty years. Most of my co-workers have been Mexican. They gave me my
name 'panadero'. I have huge respect for my Mexican friends, they are not
afraid of work.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

73 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Think immigrants are taking our jobs? Try picking strawberries for a day [View all] Kali Sep 2017 OP

Guy I met freshman year at college underpants Sep 2017 #1

I picked 30 pumpkins yesterday. DURHAM D Sep 2017 #2

A few years back we had our roof done. Hottest part of summer, 100+ ret5hd Sep 2017 #3

Had to get my roof replaced...it has 2 skylights in it too.. HipChick Sep 2017 #6

In the 60's and early '70s, Are_grits_groceries Sep 2017 #4

We had leaf tobacco fields in CT mountain grammy Sep 2017 #49

I picked strawberries once. Company I worked for also owned fields, let us glean the leftovers . . . Journeyman Sep 2017 #5

I had a friend who worked for a grower Mosby Sep 2017 #7

No, thanks gratuitous Sep 2017 #8

K&R Solly Mack Sep 2017 #9

My son worked the strawberry fields summers when he was in high school MichMary Sep 2017 #10

My family used to pick blueberries in the Poconos in PA BigmanPigman Sep 2017 #11

The problem is people don't their kids and grandkids competing with them for better jobs JI7 Sep 2017 #12

One of the interesting stories is that there are Ilsa Sep 2017 #69

Here's a story from 2010 of someone trying to pick lettuce QED Sep 2017 #13

I can thank you enough Control-Z Sep 2017 #53

I'm surprised I could find it... QED Sep 2017 #56

K&R Scurrilous Sep 2017 #14

Bernie Sanders Has Argued That Immigrants Do Take Away Our Jobs TomCADem Sep 2017 #15

The excerpt you posted is clearly about tech workers ... surrealAmerican Sep 2017 #23

"Life Guards" and "Service Industry" Are Tech Workers? TomCADem Sep 2017 #24

They're not farm workers either. surrealAmerican Sep 2017 #28

So, you and Bernie Are Making The Same Argument As Jeff Sessions? TomCADem Sep 2017 #55

This has nothing to do with DACA. surrealAmerican Sep 2017 #62

So, Now You Are Against Low-Wage Workers? TomCADem Sep 2017 #73

K&R theaocp Sep 2017 #16

Not only is it back breaking, it's seasonal! n/t TexasBushwhacker Sep 2017 #17

All immigrants aren't picking fruit though FLPanhandle Sep 2017 #18

Maybe their.... SergeStorms Sep 2017 #29

I agree, go after the employers FLPanhandle Sep 2017 #40

Paid under the table and avoiding taxes is done by many JI7 Sep 2017 #30

Construction work is extremely skilled labor and backbreaking, regardless of legality Not Ruth Sep 2017 #32

The solution is to make them legar residents, and then citizens. Then they'd get paid lunamagica Sep 2017 #33

Or start by paying US citizens a proper wage FLPanhandle Sep 2017 #36

Legalization is the best course. If they are legally working there won't be down rates lunamagica Sep 2017 #45

We had a concrete driveway poured and some flooring in a basement. TNNurse Sep 2017 #19

So without the immigrants the owner would have hired local guys FLPanhandle Sep 2017 #21

Perhaps I should have added detail. TNNurse Sep 2017 #31

So US citizens are drunk whiners? FLPanhandle Sep 2017 #35

My factory pays $25/hr to start. We get a TON of drunk whiners NickB79 Sep 2017 #52

You get what you pay for Not Ruth Sep 2017 #38

Without immigrants, you would hire local, probably union guys with FT work, picking up side $ Not Ruth Sep 2017 #34

See post #29. SergeStorms Sep 2017 #39

"most Americans are too lazy" FLPanhandle Sep 2017 #42

bullshit Kali Sep 2017 #46

Message auto-removed Name removed Sep 2017 #58

But would they.... SergeStorms Sep 2017 #54

Message auto-removed Name removed Sep 2017 #66

Message auto-removed Name removed Sep 2017 #57

In the early 70's when I lived in Eugene, Oregon, panader0 Sep 2017 #20

I quote the late Sam Howard Wolf Frankula Sep 2017 #22

Discussions about legal/ illeagle foriegn workers are upside down. mjvpi Sep 2017 #25

I picked watermelons one summer out of Stockdale, Texas in 1968 or then abouts, for $1.00/hr. CCExile Sep 2017 #26

As a teenager.... SergeStorms Sep 2017 #27

Why do they do it? The answer is simple customerserviceguy Sep 2017 #48

except their kids often do well and go on to college and get good paying jobs JI7 Sep 2017 #59

You cry because you're a good, decent person with empathy. yardwork Sep 2017 #50

hardest job I've ever had... alterfurz Sep 2017 #37

Yah, like apple picking here in Minnesota, the Apple capital of the USA. a kennedy Sep 2017 #41

Did it for a $1.50 an hour back in the 70s Kaleva Sep 2017 #43

When I was in high school in Oregon we would pick strawberries all summer. former9thward Sep 2017 #44

My Oregon relatives all did that in high school Not Ruth Sep 2017 #51

When I was a teenager, back in the 1970's customerserviceguy Sep 2017 #47

an ugly fact that will never be discussed DonCoquixote Sep 2017 #60

i only picked strawberries w/ my grandpa for jam or on vacation and they were there. pansypoo53219 Sep 2017 #61

The "send 'em home" crowd needs to hear an ultimatum DFW Sep 2017 #63

Silly. Who do you think picked strawberries before immigrants did? Honeycombe8 Sep 2017 #64

Message auto-removed Name removed Sep 2017 #65

um Kali Sep 2017 #70

Kids often did. Strawberry season starts as school lets out. Kids still work as berry pickers. L. Coyote Sep 2017 #72

Like many kids growing up in Arizona years ago Horse with no Name Sep 2017 #67

KNR Thank you! Lucinda Sep 2017 #68

Try growing a garden for a summer and starving if you fail. L. Coyote Sep 2017 #71