Shortage Threatens Apple Boom

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The article titled “In Washington State, Picker Shortage Threatens Apple Boom”, by Anna King, the economic topic of shortage in workers is discussed. Unlike western Michigan, Washington state has an abundance of apples, but not enough workers to pick them. At Broejte Orchards there are nearly 2000 workers, but at least 200 more experienced pickers are needed in order to pick all of the apples on the trees. Because states like New York, Michigan, Canada and Europe have fewer amounts of apples this year, Washington State’s apples are worth more, which is where the labor shortage is coming from. Most of the workers are getting paid up to 15% more, or are getting bonuses if they can stay the whole season. For some of the workers, the work…show more content…
It makes sense to say that this shortage is being caused by a lack of apples in other areas around the world because that means that more apples need to be picked so that they can be shipped to other areas. It also makes sense to say that the labor shortage is caused by increased security on the border because many of the apple orchard workers are migrants, and if they are not able to get up into the states, then they will not be able to…show more content…
In my educated opinion, I do not think the author is incorrect or false in any of his conclusions. If I had to see one other thing addressed, it would be to discuss more of the apple shortages in other areas around the world such as New York and Michigan. I think the article would be better if it talked about how the lack of apples has affected the economies of other areas. Since there is such a shortage of apples in those areas, it can be assumed that there is probably an excess of workers there, so I am curious as to how those areas are dealing with extra

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