Californian Crops and Farm Labor

Unlike commodity crops like wheat and corn in the Midwest, California's fresh fruits and vegetables require manual harvesting due to their perishable nature.
New agricultural technologies are unable to replace human labor for the careful harvesting of these crops.
- Example: Table grapes require careful inspection and gentle handling during picking to prevent damage and ensure ripeness.
- These grapes do not continue to ripen after being picked.
Most crops in California need to be hand-picked because of their delicate nature.
Field packing:
- Crops like celery, lettuce, cabbage, and strawberries are typically picked and packed directly in the field to maintain freshness, rather than being transported to packinghouses.
The high cost of farm labor increases the expense of harvesting produce, which in turn decreases profits for farmers.