Farm Labor in Washington

Washington State farmers and ranchers produce more than $12.7 billion in agricultural products each year, but none of this abundance is possible without the people who make it happen.

Agriculture and food processing provide more than 164,000 jobs in Washington. It takes many dedicated hands to get produce from seed to our plate. Without enough people to harvest, thousands of pounds of food can go unpicked – left to rot in the fields.

Today, the farming industry is feeling the effects of a labor shortage. Growers who are able to, have turned to technology to help ensure their crops don’t go to waste. However, not all crops are suitable for mechanized harvesting, and for many farmers, people remain essential.

One such example is Luke Kamada, manager of Pacific Agra Farms in Walla Walla, Washington. Luke explained that in some onion-growing regions, onions develop a thicker skin that allows for automated harvesting. At Pacific Agra Farms, however, the onions are more delicate and require careful, hand-harvested methods. “I think in the long run, we’ll always need some people to hand-harvest the crop,” said Luke.

Workforce is critical to the success of agriculture, and many growers are making intentional efforts to ensure their workers are supported and valued.

“Without the people we have working here, we couldn’t do this on our own,” remarked Sadie Drury. “Taking care of people is our number one priority.” Sadie is the general manager of North Slope Management and Seven Hills Vineyard, as well as Chair of the Washington State Wine Commission. She emphasized the importance of providing a livable wage and a strong quality of life for employees, and shared some of the ways they are working to achieve this.

“We have found a creative way to do the work in less hours so people have more time with their families. We have an HR person and we work with different organizations to make sure our crew has access to health care, access to programs such as ESL (English as a Second Language), and access to programs for their children and other family members,” explained Sadie. “The people who work in the vineyard are the backbone of the wine industry. I don’t think they get enough credit.”

Travis Meacham, a turfgrass producer and director for the Washington Turfgrass Seed Commission, echoed these sentiments and highlighted the evolving nature of agriculture. “Right now, we’re kind of going through a unique time where we are balancing labor issues with technology. We’re trying to find that really nice blend of what people can do and then how we can use technology to further progress.”

Modern farming is about balance—between a shrinking labor force and advancing technology, and between efficiency and care. Farmers across Washington understand that success requires both innovation and people, while always keeping the hardworking individuals in the fields at the center of the industry.

From all the people of Washington, we say “thank you” to the men and women who plant, cultivate, and harvest the best food in the world.