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The Market for Citrus Harvesting Labor*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 April 2015

Robert D. Emerson
Affiliation:
University of Florida
Thomas S. Walker
Affiliation:
University of Florida
Chris O. Andrew
Affiliation:
Stanford Food Research Institute

Extract

A number of aggregate agricultural labor market studies exist, typically concentrated on data at the national level. The Florida agricultural labor market, however, differs substantially from that of the rest of the nation, excepting California. In Florida, a large portion of the labor force is employed as harvesting labor. This is not only highly seasonal work, but also among the least demanding of skill. Also, over the period 1953-57 to 1967-69, the total number of farm workers declined in 49 states and by 43 percent nationally. During this time, Florida, however, experienced a 53 percent increase in hired labor usage, more than offsetting a 38 percent decline in family labor.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Southern Agricultural Economics Association 1976

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Footnotes

*

Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series No. 9097.

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