Nunes knows very well that Valley farms need immigrant labor

If every illegal alien in the San Joaquin Valley were to leave quickly, the most productive fruit and vegetable growing area in the nation would be devastated.

I am confident that Rep. Devin Nunes is aware of that fact. The harvesting of crops starts early in the spring down close to the border and proceeds north during the year as weather warms. The pay is adequate, but it is a hard, dirty job that requires people to move several times during the year to be close to the work.

The old bracero programs were supposed to bring in seasonal workers to help with harvesting. There is still a need for folks who are willing to follow the crops.

Much has been done to mechanize the harvest, but it has not completely cut off the need for hand labor.

This story was originally published February 3, 2018 at 2:20 PM with the headline "Nunes knows very well that Valley farms need immigrant labor."