Washington Fruit Grower’s 928 Permanent Layoffs Signal Deeper Shifts in Seasonal Farm Labor

Washington Fruit Grower’s 928 Permanent Layoffs Signal Deeper Shifts in Seasonal Farm Labor

Borton & Sons will permanently lay off 928 H-2A farmworkers in Washington this November as harvest ends, with no recall plans set for 2027. The move highlights persistent labor cost pressures, seasonal instability and slow automation progress across U.S. fruit production. Washington recorded over 14,000 similar ag layoffs the prior year.

Borton & Sons Plans to Lay Off Nearly 1,000 Seasonal Workers as Washington Harvest Winds Down

Borton & Sons, Inc. plans to lay off 928 seasonal farmworkers in Washington in November, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filing submitted to the state. The company said the affected positions are held by general farm labourers working under the federal H-2A programme, which allows agricultural employers to hire temporary foreign workers for seasonal jobs. Major fruit grower lays off nearly 1,000 workersRead mo…

Major fruit grower lays off nearly 1,000 workers

Fresh fruit is one of the most constant features of an American grocery store. Apples, pears, and cherries may remain on shelves long after harvest season ends, but the workforce behind them often follows a far less stable calendar. Agriculture depends heavily on workers hired to pick, pack, and…