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| Inmates did not take jobs from pickers |
| By columbiabasinherald.com |
| Published: 11/21/2011 |
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ROYAL CITY WA - Inmates who have picked apples at McDougall & Sons orchards near Royal City and Quincy did not take the place of private sector harvesters, Danielle Wiles of the State Department of Corrections said Friday. Wiles said there were rumblings last week claiming that had occurred. She said her department made sure that would not be true before sending the inmates out. She said it was determined there was a general shortage of harvesters and that McDougall had not turned pickers away. Wiles added that if there are still apples to be picked and other growers request help, the request will be considered. She said other inmates are eligible to work, and the state is aware apples, which came on late this year, are being threatened by the weather. Mattawa grower Hans Groenke said Saturday morning that no major damage had occurred in his district at that point. But he noted low temperatures are nearing the danger level. "Most of what we have left are Pink Ladies, and they are about done," Groenke said. According to Groenke, apples can handle temperatures down to 28 degrees, maybe even 26, which occurred Saturday morning. However, those temperatures lead to short days and an extension of the number of picking days. "The pickers can't handle them until the day warms up, or they'll be damaged," Groenke said. Royal City grower Cole Tonnemaker said the temperature in his orchards dropped to 19 Saturday morning. It was up to 28 at 10 a.m. "If they are frozen for a full day or into the next day, they're in trouble," he said. "We have to wait until they're no longer frozen to pick them." Read More. |
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