Old Mission Peninsula farmers are in the news today. Specifically, my niece, Heatherlyn Johnson Reamer, is featured in a story on 9&10 News about farm labor.
When I was a kid growing up in the 1960s and 70s, large groups of migrant workers would head north every year to work on the farms. In the early days, they’d set up camp in tents; later, they stayed in buildings provided by the farmers.
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Those days are long gone, and now finding good labor to help harvest the crops is a challenge. Especially with the current delay in the H-2A Visa program, which allows foreign workers the ability to enter the U.S. for temporary or seasonal agricultural work.
In the 9&10 News story, Heather, who handles the bookkeeping for Johnson Farms and keeps things humming along, says the delays to the program could be detrimental, especially looking ahead to apple season.
“A million pounds of apples, it takes us on average 10 to 12 weeks to pick all that, and that’s with a crew of 12 to 20 workers. If I only have 5 or 6 workers here, the crop will not get off the trees, so it’s pretty bad.”
She adds that the work shortage travels up the food chain, all the way to consumers’ dinner tables.
“Without these people who come in and do these hard jobs, there will not be food on your table, there will not be goods in the grocery stores. Food comes from the farm, and luckily in our area, there’s a lot of strong farm-to-table in Northern Michigan, which is great. But without our crew, we could go out of business.”
Watch the video below, and read the full story here.
This still photo makes you look pissy. But we know you’re a beautiful smiley woman. Yay!!
It’s a screenshot from the video, so it took me several tries to get one without her mouth open. 🙂 Maybe I’ll take another crack at it!
We know she always has her mouth open. 🙂
Lol.
To me it looks like she is processing what she has to say before she says it. I see some intelligence behind those eyes.
She’s great at “live” interviews. I’ve never liked doing them – would rather write things down rather than try to come up with sound bytes that sound half-way intelligent. I’m ok if I’m the interviewER rather than the interviewEE.
I’m better at writing…I lock up in front of a camera or an audience.
She looks as if she is listening intently not being prissy
Yup, I’m always jabbering about something ladies! Haha!
At least this time it’s very important. ?
Nice job heather
Thanks Tiffany!
Thanks Aunt Jane for the great shout out and article about labor shortages in northern Michigan agriculture
Super important. You did a great job.
Great job, Heatherlyn Johnson Reamer!
Heatherlyn is a talented lady!!!
Carrying on the legacy of OMP. Grandma Stella’s buttons are bursting from above!
Great to see you on FB!