Farmers in California are facing a crisis as a majority of field workers have stopped showing up to pick fruit and vegetables, threatening the viability of many farms. The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids earlier this month have sent shockwaves through the agricultural industry, with farmers reporting losses of up to 70% of their workforce.
Lisa Tate, a sixth-generation farmer in Ventura County, California, has seen firsthand the impact of the ICE raids on her farm. “In the fields, I would say 70% of the workers are gone,” she said. “If 70% of your workforce doesn’t show up, 70% of your crop doesn’t get picked and can go bad in one day.”
The lack of labor is having a devastating impact on California’s farms, which produce billions of dollars worth of fruit and vegetables each year. Many farmers are barely breaking even at the best of times, and the loss of so many workers could lead to permanent business closures.
Economists and politicians warn that the reduction in agricultural workers could have devastating impacts on the food supply chain and farm-belt economies. “This is bad for supply chains, bad for the agricultural industry,” said Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a Republican and former director of the Congressional Budget Office.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture reports that over three-quarters of the country’s fruits and nuts are grown in the state, with nearly $60 billion in agricultural sales in 2023. However, the impact of the ICE raids is already being felt, with many workers fearing arrest or deportation if they return to their jobs.
Farmworker community groups report that some workers are still returning to the fields, but out of economic necessity. Others are taking steps to reduce their exposure to immigration agents, such as carpooling with people with legal status to work.
President Donald Trump has acknowledged the impact of the ICE raids on agriculture and pledged to help farmers. However, no policy changes have been announced yet, leaving many farmers and workers uncertain about their future.
Source: https://gvwire.com/2025/06/30/immigration-raids-leave-crops-unharvested-california-farms-at-risk