No tomatoes: Migrant worker shortage hurts Pa. farm

Mr. Eckel, you are learning a lesson funded by years of illegal activity. First off we did not lose 175 jobs, as the article states. Rather there are 175 less criminals in our work force. You were profiting by willingly selling out the rest of our security. I would rather pay a higher price for tomatoes, picked by a legal work force, over the alternative of paying the 'hidden' costs of having an illegal workforce. I, for one, am glad you are getting out of the human black market trade. Although this newspaper is predictably sympathetic to your liberal views, and they gladly slanted this article to "feel sorry for the farmer"; most of it's readers see right through the thinly veiled mask, and we do not like the hidden agenda.
I know plenty of people working in factories where summer time temperatures reach 120DegF inside, and they are legally doing the job for $11/ hour. For you to state (paraphrase) "...Americans will not work for $16/hr in 90DegF heat..." is absurd. Have you truly looked for part time workers anywhere, other than the black market?
Face facts- You prefer the illegals purely because it is more profitable for you! Farmers are America's most important business men, but that does not allow you to bypass our laws. Go and begin your retirement, funded by America's lost security. I hope you enjoy your profits, because it cost America dearly.

I COULD NOT HAVE SAID IT BETTER MEgo!!!

AMEN MEgo !!!!!!!!!!

Mr Eckel seems to have reaped a profit off the backs of illegals or ones with questionable backgrounds or he wouldn't have a problem with finding TRUE seasonal workers!!!!

Good job MEgo! I'm really getting tired of the lovefest for people who spend their very 1st moments in this country breaking the law and the people who employ them. And we are supposed to feel sorry for them? You have to be kidding.

Mr. Eckel should really get a grip and I agree with all the statements above...Mr Eckel must have made a nice little fortune with illegals working for him, and no to mention that it is illegal to hire illegals, oh and wait I wonder how he did his taxes..hmmmm i would love to see that....I can live without tomatoes, but some of the other resources that these illegals use may not be there for me when i may really need them even thought i was born here, still live here, and pay taxes, and do all the stuff that I am required to do,and some things are just being abused..Mr. Eckel you opened a can of worms that you are probally gonna wish you didnt I know I am certainly going to make some calls and have some investigating with irs and other things since you want to wine lets make sure its a good one.

First, this is an AP article, not an Evening Sun writer just to make sure all are clear on that fact.

Second, I agree with MEgo who well stated several points.

Mr. Eckel, did you ever advertise in your local paper or contact your local high school? I can think of many people and teenagers that would be willing to work for the advertised rate (heck, I would part time for extra money!). Even if it was part time in today's economy. For you to not grow tomatoes was your decision. Apparently, you felt that it was not worth it to look at your local unemployment agency or try other avenues for labor. As others stated above, you chose to hire illegals or legals here with temporary visas. It's a shame we won't have those tomatoes to consume, but don't blame it on government. There are those willing to work if you look.

Alot of the illegals are leaving the fields and getting better jobs in town where they don't have to work for the tyrant slave master under adverse conditions.

There are some points I want to clear to all those above.... 1st, the illegals are not the main reason our economy is being depleated. Not sure if you are all aware or not but when an illegal immigrant works, they have taxes taken out of thier checks just like anyone else becuase there is that assumption that they are legal. Only diffrence with an illegal is that they can not file income taxes and get anything back, which is okay but then what happens to that money that they pay in? SO not only are your tax dollars being used, so is thiers!!

Second point is that illegals are not the ones depleting our system becuase they are not allowed to recieve any services becuase they are not legal. They can not collect any benefits from Federal programs, like Cash assistance, Food Stamps, or Housing Assistance. We have to blame our own for that, not the illigals...

A visit to Walmart on any given Saturday would find you roughly one (likely) illegal immigrant for each tomato grown by Mr. Eckel. A veritable bumper crop.

Is it possible we've showered so many benefits on these visitors that we've created a whole new group that won't do the work Americans won't do either?

Kilroy wrote:

A visit to Walmart on any given Saturday would find you roughly one (likely) illegal immigrant for each tomato grown by Mr. Eckel. A veritable bumper crop.
Is it possible we've showered so many benefits on these visitors that we've created a whole new group that won't do the work Americans won't do either?

What would you call benefits? The fact that they have a roof to live in that they pay full rental price for because they are not allowed assistance? Or would it be the fact that they pay for hier food completly bcause they again are not eligible for benefits? I am no saying they should be, however we can pass judgement on what is not true.

By going to Wal-mart, what you will see is that there is alot of hispanics but that does not prove that they are all illegals. Is it really the illegals we are fighting or is the "hidden agenda" like some else mentioned above against Hispanics in general?

Annoyed -

No, it's illegal immigration. But nice attempt to try to stifle the conversation. Perhaps one day you and the Reverend Wrights will be able to address the nations problems without raising the false alarm of racism.

MOM wrote:

GIVE ME A BREAK, BENEFITS ARE NOT HAVING A ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD OR PAYING FOR YOUR OWN FOOD.FULL RENT IS NOT HARD TO PAY WHEN YOU HAVE 15 PEOPLE LIVING THERE. GET WITH IT.

So tell me what benefits you all are talking about? As for 15 poeple living in a houshold, how does that effect you? Are they coming to your house to say that they care to live with you? Learn the real reason people live togther, it's called family values and tradition. What you see as normal, does not mean the whole world see's it that way.

Kilroy wrote:

A visit to Walmart on any given Saturday would find you roughly one (likely) illegal immigrant for each tomato grown by Mr. Eckel. A veritable bumper crop.
Is it possible we've showered so many benefits on these visitors that we've created a whole new group that won't do the work Americans won't do either?

Let me have this clear. If, you see me in WAL-MART talking in Spanish with my relatives, friends etc. you would assume that I’m illegal. That is funny.

Annoyed -

As to "Mom"'s post. It does effect her through decreased property values.

MOM wrote:

GIVE ME A BREAK, BENEFITS ARE NOT HAVING A ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD OR PAYING FOR YOUR OWN FOOD.FULL RENT IS NOT HARD TO PAY WHEN YOU HAVE 15 PEOPLE LIVING THERE. GET WITH IT.

This reminds me some neighbors that I used to have. They were none Hispanic, 4 families use to live in this small house, they did not work, they got in trouble for passing bad checks..…ups ….. Sorry, we are taking about Hispanics.

Kilroy wrote:

Annoyed -
As to "Mom"'s post. It does effect her through decreased property values.

For one, decreased property value is based on the value on houses around a house,and thier condition not on how many people live in them.

As to mom's response..... In a way yes, I do live in this, not physically but through employment. I am a Liscensed Social Worker and see what is behind the scenes not just the cover. So yes, I am with the American Program, you should also join it sometime from behind the scenes!!!!

Pepe..you are hilarious! I'm glad you can see both sides of the coin without using harsh words or directly affending people.

Pepe wrote:

<quoted text>
This reminds me some neighbors that I used to have. They were none Hispanic, 4 families use to live in this small house, they did not work, they got in trouble for passing bad checks..…ups ….. Sorry, we are taking about Hispanics.

Hilarious! Wow..I am so glad that there are some people out there that can see both sides of the coin..keep up the good work Mr. Pepe!