Read that last year 170 Thai farmers were imported on a seasonal basis to help in the Yakima Washington apple and cherry harvest. Fruit growers liked them because: 1) No documentation/immigration problems as with Latinos 2) Found them to be hard workers 3) All showed up every day to work
State likes them because: 1) The thais wanted to go home at the end of the season 2) No documentation problems
Said that the Thais are the latest part of the historic cycle in farm labor. One hunred years ago it was Chinese workers brought in to help on the farms, to be replaced by the Japanese who it was said worked harder. Filipinos followed, then Mexicans, and now Southeast Asians.
Has anybody in other states or even other countries heard of a controlled program to bring Thais in on a seasonal basis?
Seriously, alot Thai seasonal workers work the kibbutzes in Israel. Israeli's say they are best foreign laborers they have ever had. Also, they don't blow up buses.
