If only American workers were available, a majority of the fruit and vegetables grown in the United States would be left to rot in the fields.
Facing a perpetually insufficient domestic workforce willing to do the strenuous manual labor required to harvest fruit and vegetable crops around the country, many Central Virginia farmers have turned to the H-2A visa program administered through the U.S. Department of Labor to bring in workers from other countries.
Dickie Brothers Orchard in Nelson County is one of many area fruit growers relying heavily on this seasonal labor. In a typical year, co-owner John Bruguiere hires up to 15 workers from Mexico to harvest apples, peaches, and other tree fruits grown across 100 acres, prune trees and do other work around the farm.
