University of California
College of Agriculture
Agricultural Experiment Station
Berkeley, California
SEASONAL LABOR NEEDS FOR CALIFORNL'i CROPS
SANTA CL^m COUIilTY
Progress Report No. 43
ty
R* L» Adams
October, 1936
Contribution from the
Gianni nj Foundation of Agricultural Economics
Mimeographed Report No, 53
rr
.11 A
iRE
(Farm Labor Survey - - January- June, 1936)
Progress Report No. 43
Seasonal Labor Needs for California Crops
Santa Clara County
Scope of Presentation . — The following considerations govern the present-
ation of this progress report:
1» The data are confined to the area indicated above,
2, Tho data are confined solely to orops, livestock needs being ignored,
3, The findings apply only to occasional or seasonal labor requirements
as distinguished from labor contributed by farm operators and by workers employed
on a year-round or regular basis of employment,
4, Attention is concentrated upon workers required for hand tasks —
planting, thinning, weeding, hoeing, and harvesting — without including teamsters
tractor drivers, irrigators, hay balers, throshermen, and shod packers of vege-
tables or fruits t
5, The presentation includes tho so-called migratory, transient, or
roving workers which comprise an important source of help needed in connection
with certain tasks and at "peak" times which seasonally ariso in conucction v^ith
many field, truck, and fruit crops commercially produced in California,
6» This report is confined to California' s need for seasonal agricultural
workers because of the more pressing problems liable to arise in connection
therewith. A later study is planned which will deal with other kinds of labor
involved in the production of California's many crops.
Brief Description of the Area Under Review . — Santa Clara is one of the
central counties of^ California, lying at the southern end of San Francisco Bay,
its northern boundary being about 30 miles southeast of the city of San Fran-
cisco. It is bounded on tho west by Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties, the
dividing line running along the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains, On the east
it joins Stanislaus and Merced counties along the ridge of the Mt, Hamilton
range. On the south it is divided from San Benito County by the Pajaro River,
and a line running easterly into the mountains. On the north tho boundary lino
crosses the southern tip of Son Francisco Bay, West of the Bay it joins San
Mateo County and east of the Bay it borders Alameda County.
Between the two mountain ranges mentioned above lios the Santa Clara
Valley, which is world famous for its production of fruit, oepocially prunes and
apricots. It extends in a souteastorly direction for about 50 miles, and is
about 12 miles wido in the lowor portion near San Jose, narrowing to about 1 mile
near Coyote, and expanding again to about 6 milos near Gilroy, This valley is
all under intensive cultivation, and comprises the most important agricultural
district in tho county. Prunes and apriocfes are raised generally throughout tho
whole length of the valley. Pears are grown extensively in tho district north
of San Jose, as are most of tho apples also. Raspberries, spinach, celery, and
various other orops occupy considerable acreages around San Joso, Cherries and
walnuts are found mostly in the nortwestorn part of the county near Santa Clara
and Sunnyvale, Spring peas are grown extensively near Milpitas, especially on
the rolling and hilly land to axi elovation of several hvmdrod feet.
I
2,
The county contains a total of 849,920 acres, of which 218,267 acres arc
classed as available for crops by the 1935 Census. This is further classified
as follows by the Census for the crop year 1934,
Crop land harvested 175,750 acres
Crop failure 1,206 acres
Crop land idle or fallow 7,035 acres
Plowaljlo pasturo 34, 276 acres
Total land availablo for crops 218,267 acres
Crop acreages in 1935 aro estimated to have been as follows:
Field crops 45,330 acres
Vegetable crops 19,097 acres
Fruits and borrios 109,000 acres
Total 173,427 aorcs
The farming area in the Santa Clara Valloy ranges in elevation from
practically sea levol near Alviso, to about 400 foot near Morgan Hill, being
mostly undo 200 foot. Various soils are represented, six soil series being
noted, and twelve or more soil types. The predominating textures aro tho heavier
phases, r-^jiging from looms and gravelly looms to clays and clay adobes, practically
all 6 feet or more in depth*
Crops, Acroage, and Production . — The basis used in calculating occasional
or seasonal need for labor in addition to that furnished by farm operators and
regularly employed xvorkers appears as table 1,
T.IBLE 1
Basis for Calculating Seasonal Labor Requirements — Srjita Clara County
Crops
Acreages
Production
Field crops ri<
Grain — whoat
609
10,971
bushels
oats
408
9,801
bushels
barley
5,303
80,771
bushels
Garlic t
415
20,750
hundredweight
Hay — alfalfa
6,699
27,252
tons
grain
22,728
27,783
tons
other hay
6,825
8,607
tons
Potatoes (Irish)
257
25,353
bushels
Sugar beets
2,086
24,730
tons
Vogotable crops: t
200)
200)
String beans — market
spring
fall
1,800
tons
canning
460
2,180
tons
Cabbage
100
Caulif louver (fall and winter 500)
650
130,000
crates
(spring
150)
Colery (fall and winter 800)
1,000
400,000
cratos
(summer
200)
Cucumbers — pickling
265
1,855
tons
Table 1 continued on next page.
TablG 1 continued.
3.
orop s
^\.crcG.go
i I OQUOulOll
Vogotablc crops: (ccntinuod)
Lottuco (spring 100}
200
(lall 100;
Poas (spring 2,000)
4,200
420,000 hampers
(fall 2,200)
Poppors boll
300
120,000 oratos (60 to 80 pounds)
Spinach — canning
3, 109
15,545 tons
Strawberries t
285
228,000 orates
TomatoGs — market
100
15,000 lugs
canning
8,028
40,140 tons
Fruit crops: t
Almonda
223
Apples
843
8,430 tons
Apricots
18,191
42,000 tons
Cherries
2,077
2,000 tons oanned
Grapes (wme varieties ;
2,000 tons shipped
6,639
13,278 tons
Peaches - - clingstone
363
T f\r\ j_
1,500 tons
freestone
1,062
4,248 tons
Pears *? — Bartlett
4, 956
24,000 tons oaniicd
375 tons driod
(dry T/oight j
other varieties
2,443
350,000 boxes of 50 pounds not
Plums
1,575
300 tons (mostly noncommercial)
Prunes
64,372
93,000 tons (dried vroight)
Walnuts
5,585
1,775 tons
Raspberries
700 II
700,000 crates
Bushberrios
125 W
Seed crops: (Complete data on those crops are .lot yot avr.ilablo, but will be
included later, when this report is revised.)
* Aoroago and production of field crops, except garlic and sugar beets, arc
from the 1935 Census, for the crop year 1934. No data are available for 1935,
^ The acreage of vegetable crops, garlic, and strawberries is from tho
Fedoral-Str.to Crop Reporting Service, Sacramento. Production is estimated from
average yields. Of the strawberry acroago, about 200 acres arc bearing. Yield
estimated at 1,200 crates per acre on two-thirds of acreage.
+ Acreage of fruit crops is from L. R, Cody, Agricultural Commissioner of
Santa Clara County, Production is estimated from average yields, in most on.sos,
<| Poar production estimated as follows!
350,000 boxes shipped, average 50 pounds 8,750 tons
375 tons (dry weight) dried 1,875 tons green
Tonnage canned 24,000 tons
Total pear production 34,625 tons
^ 'Whilo the acreage in plvims is given as 1,575, it is probable that most of
this is cither noncommercial, or varieties dried as pinincs. Commercial plum
aoroago harvested for sale as fresh fruit is probably about 50 acres.
(Footnotes continued.)
II Acreages of raspberries and bushberrios are estimates by Central California
Berry Growers Association,
Operations Requiring Use of Seasonal Labor and Time of Wood , — Farm operations
requiring the use of seasonal or occasional labor for the' various crops raised in
Santa Clara County are indicated in table 2, This tabulation docs not include the
employing of shed v/orkers needed to ivash, pack, and prepare -various commodities for
shipping and marketing.
TABLE 2
Operations Requiring Use of Seasonal Labor and
Times of Needs by Crops -- Santa Clara County
Crop
Operation
Time of need
Field crops:
Garlic
Planting
December --75 per cent of acreage
January - ■ 25 per cent of acreage
Hoeing (first time)
(second time)
February 25 per cent of acreage
March — 75 per cent of acreage
April — 50 per cent of acreage
Ikcy 50 per cent of aoroago
Pulling and piling
June 25 per cent of acreage
August — 75 per cent of acreage
Topping and sacking
June — 20 per cent of crop
August --80 per cent of crop
Grain ("urfieat,
barley, oats)
Harvesting with "com-
bine"
50 per cent by season-
al workers
Juno 20-30 -- 20 per cent of acreage
July 1-31 -- 60 per cent of acreage
August 1-20 --20 per cent of acreage
Hay, alfalfa - •
use of seasonal labor inconsequential and henoo ignored.
Hay, other than
alfalfa
Mowing
50 per cent by
seasonal workers
April 20-30 15 per cent of acreage
I\feiy 1-31 — 75 per cent of acreage
June 1-15 — 10 per cent of acreage
Raking —
50 per cent by
seasonal workers
April 20-30 -- 15 per cent of acreage
IJlay 1-31 — 75 per cent of acreage
June 1-15 -- 10 per cent ofacreage
Shocking —
50 per cent by
seasonal workers
April — 10 per cent of acreage
May — 75 per cent of acreage
Juno ~ 15 per cent of acreage
Trimming —
50 per cent by
seasonal workers
April -- 10 per cent of acreage
Ifey — 75 per cent of acreage
June — 15 per cent of acreage
Baling -~
75 per cent of crop
June — 37-|- per cent of tonnage
July -~ 37^ per cent of tonnage
Sugar beets
Thinning
February 17 per cent of acreage
Table 2 continued en next page.
r- .
i
[i
* •
t
•
J
i
t
s
•
Table 2 continuod. 5,
Crop
Operation
Time of need
Field orops:
Sugar beets
(cent, )
Thiming
March --31 per cent of acreage
April --40 per cent of acreage
liay -~ 8 per cent of acreage
June -- 4 per cont of acreage
Hoeing
April one-third of acreage
May — one-third of acreage
Juno — one-third of acreage
Topping and loading
August — 20 per cent of crop
September --40 per cent of crop
October — 40 per cent of crop
Vegetable orops:
Beans, string
Hoeing —
25 per cent by-
seasonal -workors
May — 33 per cent of acreage
June — 33 per cent of acreage
July — 33 per cont of acreage
Setting poles
May — 90 per cent of acreage
Picking
May --2 per cont of crop
June — 13 per cent of crop
July — 20 per cent of crop
August --35 per cent of crop
September — 20 per cent of crop
October - • 10 per cent of crop
Cabbage — use o
f seasonal labor inconsequential and hence ignored.
Caulif lov/er
Cutting and haulirig to
edge of field
50 per cent by
seasonal workers
Hovcmbcr — 5 per cent of crop
December — 10 per cent of crop
January -- 50 per cent of crop
February -- 30 per cent of crop
March -- 5 per cent of crop
Packing
November -- 5 per cent of crop
December -- 10 per cent of crop
Janucj-y - - 50 per cent of crop
Februcxy — 30 per cent of crop
IvJarch - • 5 per cent of crop
Celery-
Planting*
Juno 15-30 — 20 per cent of acreage
July 1-31 — 40 per cent of acreage
August 1-15 -- 20 per cent of acreage
(Balance scattering and inconsequential)
Hoeing
July — 27 per cent of acreage at 3-1/3
mpji-days per acre
August -- 27 per cent of acreage at
3-I/3 man-days per acre
September — 27 per cent of acreage at
3-I/3 man-days per acre
Table 2 continued on next page.
Table 2 continued.
0
Crop
Operation
Time of need
Vegetable crops:
Celery (cont.)
Cucumbers,
pickling
Fertilizing —
50 per cent by-
seasonal vrorkers
Cutting, trimming, and
throwing in crates
Picking —
. 50 per cent by
seasonal workers
July — 80 per cent of acreage
August 80 per cent of acreage
September — 80 per cent of acreage
June 5 per cent cf crop
July --5 per cent of crop
October -■• 10 per cent of crop
IJovember — 40 per cent of crop
December — 30 per cent of crop
July — 30 per cent of crop
August --40 per cent of crop
September — 30 per cent of crop
Lettuce use of seasonal labor inconsequential and hence ignored.
Peas
Peppers, bell
Spinach
Strawberries
Tomatoes
Hoeing
Picking "j"
Planting in field
50 per cent by
seasonal workers
Picking
Picking up and putting
in crates
Picking (1935 season)
Transplanting in beds
Setting plants in
field
Replanting
Hoeing (average once)
Iviarch — 35 per cent of acreage
August — 65 per cent of acreage
March — l/2 per cent of crop
April — 20 per cent of crop
May — 9 per cent of crop
June — 5 per cent of crop
August -- 1/2 per cent of crop
September — 28 per cent of crop
October --36 per cent of crop
November -- 1 per cent of crop
May — 50 per cent of acreage
June — 50 per cent of acreage
July — 10 per cent of crop
August — 15 per cent of crop
September — 35 per cent of crop
October --40 per cent of croD
March 20-31 — 50 per cent of crop
April 1-15 --50 per cent of crop
April 15-30 -~ 2 per cent of crop
May — 55 per cent of crop
June --20 per cent of crop
July — 11 per cent of crop
August — 8 per cent of crop
September — 3 per cent of crop
Ivlarch
50 per cont of acreage
April 15-30
May 1-15 — 50 per cent of acreage
April 21-30 --25 per cent of acreage
May 1-21 --75 per cent of acreage
May — one-third 6f acreaire
June -- on3-t]:iird of acreage
Table Z continued on next page.
I
■T ■■■ ■
Table 2 continued.
7.
Crop
Operation
Time of need
Vegetable crops:
Tomatoes (cent.)
Hoeing (average once)
Picking — cannery-
Picking — market
July — one- third eac
September — 40 per cent of crop
October 60 per cent of crop
September -- 33 per cent of crop
October --66 per cent of crop
Fruit crops:
Almonds -- use of seasonal labor inconsequential and hence ignored.
Apples
Apricots
Cherries
Grapes (wine
var ioties )
Pruning —
50 per cent by
seasonal workers
Thijming
Picking
Pruning —
75 per cent by
seasonal workers
Spraying —
66 per cent by
seasonal workers
Thinning ^ —
90 per cent by
seasonal workers
Picking
Cutting for drying —
50 per cent of crop
Other labor in dry yard
Picking
Pruning —
50 per cent by
seasonal workers
Hoeing and suckering
November 15-30 — 12i- per cent of -".croage
December 1-31 -- 25 per cent of acreage
January 1-31 - • 25 per cent of acreage
February 1-28 — 25 per cent of acreage
Ivlarch 1-15 — 12-|- per cent of acreage
May 50 per cent of acreage
June — 50 per cent of acreage
August — 40 per cent of crop
September — 40 per cent of crop
October — 20 per cent of crop
September — 10 per cent of acreage
October -- 25 per cent of acreage
Kovcmbor -•• 25 per cent of acreage
December — 25 per cent of acreage
January - • 15 per cent of acreage
December — one-half of acreage
January — one-half of acreage
February — all of acreage
April 15-30 — 50 per cent of acreap;e
May 1-15 — 50 per cent of acreage
July — 80 per cent of crop
August — 20 per cent of crop
July -- 80 per cent of toimage dried
August — 20 per cent of tonnage dried
July -- 75 per cent of job
August — 25 per cent of job
Is/lay 5-31 — 33 per cent of crop
June 1-15 — 66 per cent of crop
December — one-third of acreage
January -- one-third of acreage
February — one-third of acreage
April 50 per cent of acreage
May -- 50 per cent of acreage
Table 2 continued on next page,
Table 2 continued.
Crop
Fruit crops:
Grapes (wine
varieties)
(cont. )
Peaches
Pears
Plums
Prunes
OxDcration
Tying vines on 15 por
cent of acreage —
50 por cent by-
seasonal workers
Sulfuring —
50 per cent by-
seasonal workers
Picking
Pruning
Thinning
Harvesting — clings
— freestones
Pruning —
66 per cont by
seasonal workers
Spraying (by regular
men)
Irrigating (by regular
men)
Picking
Cutting for drying
Other dry-yard labor
Picking
Pruning (60 per cent
acreage pruned each
year —
75 per cent by
seasonal workers
of
Brush disposal
Tiwe of need
Juno — 7-^ por cent of acreage
July — 7% por cont of acroago
July
October 10-31 -
November 1-18 -
- 50 per cont of crop
- 50 per cent of crop
November -
December -
January --
February -
Hay
- 30 per cent of acreage
- 30 por cent of acreage
30 per cent of acreage
10 por cent of acreage
August -- all of crop
September — all of crop
October 15-31 — 10 per cent of acreage
November — 20 per cent of acreage
December — 20 per cent of acroago
Janua.ry --20 per cent of acreage
February -~ 20 per cent of acreage
Llarch 1-15 - ■ 10 cor cent of acreage
July — 10 por cont of crop
August — 50 per cent of crop
September — 30 per cent of crop
October 1-15 — 5 per cent of crop
August - • 75 per cent of tonnage dried
September -~ 25 por cont of ton.aage dried
August -- 50 per cent of crop
Septombor — 50 per cent of crop
July
all of crop
October -- 6 per cent of acreage
November — 12 por cent of acreage
December — 12 per cent of acreage
January — 12 por cent of acreage
February - - 12 per cent of acreage
March 1-15 — 6 per cent of acreage
October -- 6 per cent of acreage
Table 2 continued on next page.
Table 2 continued, 9,
Crop
• •
Operation
Time of need
Fruit crops:
Prunes (cent.)
Brush disposal
November — 12 per cent of acreage
December 12 per cent of acreage
January — 12 per cont of acreage
February — 12 per cent of acrcr.ge
March 1-15 — 6 per cent of acreage
Irrigating —
50 per cent by-
seasonal workers
(about 75 per cent of
total acreage is
irrigated)
M&Y — 37.5 per cent of acreage
Jime — 37.5 per cent of acreage
October --45 per cent of acreage
Picking up
O IT
August 10-31 --30 per cont of crop
September 1-30 --60 per cont of crop
October 1-7 -- 10 per cent of crop
Drying — in sun (80
per cent of crop)
— in dchydrators
(20 per cent of crop)
August 10-31 — 30 per cent of crop
September 1-30 -- 60 per cent of crop
October 1-7 10 per cent of crop
Walnuts
Knocking, picking up,
and hulling —
50 per cent of crop
September 15-30 15 per cent of job
October 65 per cont of job
iJovomber --20 per cont of job
Knocking and picking up
— 50 per cent of crop
September 15-30 — 15 per cont of job
October — 65 per cent of job
November 20 per cont of job
Hulling by machine --
50 per cent of crop
September 15-30 -- 15 per cent of job
October — 65 per cent of job
November — 20 per cent of job
Raspberries
Picking
April 15-30 -- 1 per cont of crop
May --8 per cent of crop — spring peak
June — 40 per cont of crop
July --20 per cent of crop
August -•- IS por cent of crop
'Tall
September — 11 per cent of crop — peak
October 1-15 --7 per cent of crop
* Celery is produced in practically every month, but amount in most months is
small and has been ignored here.
"t* Based on 1935 crop season, -which -was about t-wo weeks later than usual.
f Apricot thinning in 1935 -was light, possibly 30 per cont of normal. About
50 per cent of thinnixig is done by "poling" — balance by hand.
Findin gs of Seasonal Labor Nocds . — Details and sumi-riaries of seasonal labor
requirements of Santa Clara County agriculture arc presented as table 3. The "size
of task" are figures dra-wn from table 1 in terms of either acreage or output in
tons, crates, boxes, or -whatever unit is commonly used. The "output per man-day"is
an average figure for the entire acreage or output figured in packed crr.tcs..
hampers, or boxes (in Case of fruits and vegetables). If the work is of a nature
that requires a crew different members of which perform different tasks (such as
cutting, trimifing, loading, and hauling caulif lovver; triraning and crating celery,
etc.), then the average shown is per man based on the entire crew. Length of day
is 9 hours, November to February; 10 hours, March to October, unless otherwise
10.
stated. Wide Tariations in output occur between farm and farm, field and field,
and season and season, because of differoncos in soil types, climatic conditions,
weeds, yields, and other factors influencing the amount of vroi-k that a laborer
can perform in a given day. Moreover, the basis of output is a mature, experienced
male worker, without reference to use of women, children, and more or loss inexper-
ienced help that is sometijiies used in connection with certain of tiie tasks requir-
ing use of seasonal workers. The column headed 'b,Tailable days" reflects (a)
limitations set from the period within -vrfiich the work must be performed because of
the nature of the task, such as transplanting, thinning, weeding, and cutting, and
(b) available days as determined by weather conditions, inclement wer.ther reducing
the number of days when a required task can be performed. The "required number of
individuals" is given in terms of workers as noted above in conaiection with 'butput
per man-day,"
It is probable that the estimated number of workers required, as recorded in
table 3, will often be too IoviT, for the reason that "peaks" frequently occur,
during which an unusually largo proportion of the job is doxie in a very short period.
This would naturally require a much greater number of workers than v/hon the work
is spread over a longer period, even though the total amount of labor (in man-days)
remains the same.
TABLE 3
Seasonal Labor Needs Santa Clara County —by Months and Tasks
1 ' — 1
Output per man-day
Available
Required number
Month
Crop and task
Size of task
iHC-.il \_lt*<J( O
days
of workers*
January
Garlic: Planting
iU'i acres
0.17 acre
"
19
33
Cauliflower: Cutting and packing
o&iDUU oraxesi
19
25
Packing
DO J UvU via\/co
520
19
28
Apples: Pruning
106 acres +
0.5 acre
212
iy
li.
HpricoirS. rruna.ng
2. 047 acres "f
0.25 acre
8,188
19
431
Spraying
6,064 acrest
2 acres
3,032
19
160
Grapes: Pruning
i,xUf acresT
u • / 0 acre
X , f 0
X 7
78
Peaches: Pruning
427 acres
U.C.D aero
X , / OO
1 9
X >/
90
Pears: Pruning (including brush
U»c acre ^lo T.rees>
disposal J
986 acres r
<i , you
1 Q
xy
Prunes: Pruning
0 , ( yo acresT
1. 1 t ooo
1 Q
X ^
91 S
Disposing of brush
5,795 acresT
2 .5 acre s
, oxo
1 Q
xy
xcc
Totals
40.857
19
2.151 man-months
February
Lrarlici noemg ^.iirsx xxine j
22
10
sugar oeexs. ininning
710
22
33
Cauliflower: Cutting
19,500 crates'
70 crates
c f y
oo
c,c.
xo
39,000 crates
125 cra.tes
312
22
15
Apples: Pruning
106 acres
0.5 acre
212
22
10
Apricots: Spraying
12,128 acresf
2 acres
6,064
22
275
Grapes: Pruning
1,107 acresf
0.75 acre
1,475
22
67
Peaches: Pruning
285 acres
0.25 acre
1,140
22
52
Pe;rs: Pruning
986 acres -f-
0.2 acre
4,930
22
225
Prunes: Pruning
5,795 acres
0.33 acre
17,385
22
791
Disposing of brush
5,795 acres t
2.5 acres
2.318
22
106
Totals
OO
rt<t
L o mij,n-*iiiuii nio
March
Garlic: Hoeing (first time)
312 acres
0.5 acre
624
22
29
Suger beets: Thinning
647 acres
0.5 acre
1,2-94
22
59
Cauliflower: Cutting
3,250 cratesf
70 crates
47
10
5 (for 10 days)
Packing
6,500 crates
125 crates
52
10
5 (for 10 days)
Peasi Hoeing
2,000 acres
1 acre
2,000
22
91
Picking
2,100 hampers
10 hampers
210
3
70 (for 3 days)
Spinach: Harvesting
7,773 tons
2 tons (per 6-^our
3,887 (of
10
389 (20th-31st)
dav)
, 6 hours}
■ — u
Table continued on next page.
i
7
4
4
Table con1
Month
.inu3d. 1
Crop and ttsk
Size of task
Output per man-day
Required
man-days
Available
d3,ys
Required number
of workers*
March
(cont .)
Tomatoes: Transplanting in beds
Apples: Pruning
Pears: Pruning
Prunes: Pruning
Disposing of brush
Totals
Garlic: Hoeing second time
Hay: Mowing
Raking
Shocking
Trimming
Sugar beets: Thinning
Hoeing
Per.s: Picking
Spinach: Harvesting
Tomatoes: Setting plants in field
Replanting
Apricots: Thinning by hand
Thinning by poling
urapes: bucKering ana noemg
Raspberries: Picking (mostly by
regular employees this month)
Strawberries: Picking (mostly by
regular employees this month)
Totals
9,753,000 plants
53 acres 1"
494 acresf
2,900 acresf
r>,qr:n f.r;rfist
4,000 plants
0»5 acre
0.2 acre
0.33 acre
2.S) a,cres
2,439
106
2,470
8,700
1 . 1 .^n
22
11
11
11
- '
111
10 (lst-15th)
224 (lst-15th)
791 (lst-15th)
22.989
22
1.045 man-nionths
April
208 acres
2,217 acresf
2,217 acres-f-
1,478 acr&s■^
1,478 acresf
835 acres
695 acres
84,000 hampers
7,773 tons
4,064 acres
2,032 acres
4,092 ?-cres +
A HQ? Ei<»rp<?"f
1 acre
10 acres
20 acres
30 acres
10 acres
0.5 ecre
1.0 acre
10 hampers
2 tons (per 6-hour
day)
0.75 acre
0.25 a.cre)
7 crates
10 crates
208
222
111
50
148
1,670
695
8,400
3,887
of 6 hours
5,419
680
7,366t
2,216
23
8
8
5
5
23
23
23
12
12
6
12
23
12
9
28 (20th-30th)
14 (20th-30th)
10 (25th-30th)
30 (25th-30th)
73
ol
366
324 (lst-15th)
452 (I5th-30th)
114 (2ist-30th)
614t(l5th-^lst)
97
— (I5th-30th)
— (I5th-30th)
31.072
23
1,351 man-months
May
Garlic: Hoeing (second time)
Hay: Mowing
Raking
Trimming
Sugar beets: Thinning
Hoeing
Beans (string): Hoeing
208 acres
11,083 acres f
11,083 acres t
11,083 acres'^
11,083 acres+
167 acres
695 acres
72 acres f
1 acre
10 acres
20 acres
30 acres
10 acres
0.5 acre
1 acre
0.25 acre
208
1,108
554
370
1,108
334
695
288
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
9
44
22
15
44
14
28
12
Table continued on next page. ^3
T
>
- •-
» ... « , ,
■ - ' ^ ...... . . s
..'
0
Table continued.
1
Re Quired
Month
Crop and task
Size of task
Output per m:i.n-dey
man— day s
dSLys
of* 'Ji/ny*]<'PT*c;*
May
Biians (string): Setting polos
7 74 acres
0.25 acre
3,096
25
124
( cont . j
Picking
80 tons
0.17 ton
480
10
48 (for 10 days;
Peas: Picking
37,800 hampers
10 hampers
3,780
25
152
Poppers: Planting in field
75 acres 1
0.25 acre
300
25
12
Tomatoes: Planting
4,064 -icrcs
0.75 acre
5,419
13
417 (lst-15th)
Replanting
6,096 j-cres
—
2,024
18
113 (lst-21st)
Hoeing
2,709 acres
1 acre
2,709
25
109
Apples: Thinning
422 acres
0.25 acre
1,688
13
130 (I5th-31st)
Apricots: Thinning by hand
4,092 acrast
0.25 acre)
7,366t
12
614t(lst-15th)
Thinning by poling
4,092 acresf
0.50 ii-crcs)
Cherries: Picking
1,334 tons
200 pounds
13,340
23
580 (5th-31st)
Grapes: Suckering and hoeing
3,320 acres
1.5 acres
2,216
25
89
Q Q7
/ n("\
Prunes: Irrigating
12,070 acres!
2.5 acres
4,828
25
194
Raspberries: Picking
56,000 crates
7 crates (of 12
8.000
25
320
Strawberries: Picking (80 per
^-pint baskets)
100,520 crate st
cent by seasonal workers)
15 crates
6.688
25
268
Totals
76.574
25
3.063 man— months
June
Garlic: Pulling and piling
104 acres
1 acre
104
26
4
Topping and sacking
4,150 cwt.
15 cwt.
277
26
11
Grain: Harvesting with "combine"
632 acres ■^
4 acres (per 7-hour
158 {?f
10
16 (20th-30th)
1,478 acres T
day)
7 hours)
Hay: Mowing
10 acres
148
6
25 (lst-7th)
Raking
1,478 acres T
20 acres
74
6
12 (lst-7th)
Shocking
2,217 acresf
30 acres
74
6
12 (lst-7th)
Trimming
2,217 acrest
10 acres
222
6
38
Baling
13,550 tons
5 tons (per 14-hour
day)
2,730 (of
14 hours)
26
105
Sugar beets: Thinning
84 acres
0.5 acre
168
10
17 (for 10 days)
Hoeing
695 acres
1.0 acre
695
26
27
Beans (string): Hoeing
72 acres "f"
0.25 acre
288
26
12
Picking
517 tons
0.17 ton
3,102
26
120
Celery: Planting
200 acres
0,17 acre
1,200
13
93 (I5th-30th)
Cutting
20,000 crates
25 crates
800
26
31 H
Peas: Picking
21,000 hampers
10 hampers
2.100
26
81 y
Table continued on next page.
r ■ ' ' ' ' . ■ . . .... ^. ... ~ . . . ^ .
4
Table continued.
Month
June
( cent . )
July
Crop and task
Peppers (bell): Planting in field
Strawberries: Picking (80 per
cent by seasonal workers)
Tomatoes: Hoeing
Apples: Thinning
Cherries: Picking
Grapes: Tying vines
Prunes: Irrigating
Raspberries: Picking
Totals
Grain: Harvesting by combine
Hay: Baling
Beans (string): Hoeing
Picking
Celery: Planting
Hoeing
Fertilizing
Cutting
Cucumbers: Picking
Peppers (bell): Picking
Tomatoes: Hoeing
Apricots: Picking
Cutting for drying
Other labor in dry
yard
Grapes: Tying vines
Sulfuring
Pears: Picking
Plums: Picking
Required
Available
Required number
Output per man-day
man— days
days
of workers*
75 cLCTQS'f'
0.25 acre
300
26
12
7)6 480 crates'^
15 crates
2,432
26
94
2,709 acres
1 acre
2,709
26
105
1,688
13
130 (lst-15th)
2,666 tons
200 pounds
26,660
13
2,051 (lst-15th)
250 acres f
2 acres
125
26
5
12,070 acres^"
2.5 acres
4,828
26
186
280,000 crates
7 crates (of 12
40,000
26
1,539
i-pint baskets)
90,882
26
3,496 man-months
1,896 acres t
4 acres (per 7-hour
474 (of
26
IB
day)
7 hours)
13,650 tons
5 tons (per 14-
2,730 (of
26
105
hour day)
14 hours)
72 acres"!"
0.25 acre
288
26
12
796 tons
0.17 ton
4,776
26
184
400 acres
0.17 acre
2,400
26
93
270 acres
3.3 hours per acre
90
26
4
400 acres "t"
1 acre
400
26
16
20,000 crates
25 crates
800
26
31
278 tons f
700 pounds
795
26
31^
12,000 crates
20 crates
600
18
34 (7th-31st)
2,709 acres
1 acre
2,709
26
105
33,600 tons
1,000 pounds
67,200
26
2,585
16,800 tons
700 pounds
48,000
26
1,847
75 per cent
11 hours per fresh
17,325
26
667
of job
ton
250 acres T
2 acres
125
26
5
3,320 acres-f-
3 acres (per 3-
1,107 (of
26
43
hour day)
3 hours)
356 (I5th-31st)
3,463 tons
0.75 ton
4,618
13
300 tons
1,000 Dounds
600
26
24
Table continued on next page,
Table con
Month
tinuea.
UFOp cinQ WCLt>J\,
Si 7.e of task
Output per man— dc^y
Required
Av-.ilabls
H r. V
Required number
of workers*
July
(cont .)
strawberries: Picking (50 per
cent by seasonal workers)
Raspberries: Picking
Totals
12,540 crates 1"
140,000 crates
15 crates
7 cr-vtes
836
20,000
26
26
33
770
175,873
26
d,(do man— mont.ns
August
Garlic: Pulling and piling
Topping and sacking
Grain: Harvesting by "combine"
312 acres
16,600 cwt.
632 acrest
1 acre
1, 500 pounds
4 acres (per 7-
hour day)
312
1,107
158 (of
7 hours)
25
25
18
13
45
9 (lst-20th)
Sugar beets: Topping and loading
Beans (string): Picking
Celery: Planting
Hoeing
Fertilizing
Cucumbers: Picking
Peas: Hoeing
Picking
Peppers (bell): Picking
Apples: Picking
Apricots: Picking
Cutting for drying
Other dry yard l.^bor
4,946 tons
1,393 tons
200 acres
270 acres
400 acrest
370 tonst
2,200 acres
2,100 hampers
18,000 crates
3,372 tons
8,400 tons
4,20C tons
25 per cent
. of job
6 tons
0.17 ton
0.17 acre
3.3 hours per acre
1 acre
700 pounds
I acre
10 hampers
20 crates
2,200 pounds
1,000 pounds
700 pounds
II hours per fresh
ton <f
825
8,358
1,200
90
400
l,05t
2,200
210
900
3,066
16,800
12,000
5,775
25
25
13
25
25
25
25
3
25
25
13
13
18
33
335
93 (lst-15th)
4
16
43^1
88
70 (for 3 days)
36
123
1,293 (lst-15th)
923 (lst-15th)
321 (lst-21st)
Peaches (clingstone varieties):
Picking
Pears: Picking
1,500 tons
17,313 tons
1,50C pounds
0.75 ton
2,000
22,084
25
25
80
884
Cutting for drying
1,406 tons
1,000 pounds
2,812
25
113
Other labor in dry yard
50 per cent
26^ hours per
2,485
25
100
of job
fresh ton^
1,395 (I0th-31st)
Prunes: Pickins ud
27,900 tons
2,000 pounds
27 , 9on
20
Drying
27,900 tons
8,3 hours per
iresn xon
23,157
20
1,158 (I0th-31st)
Raspberries: Picking
91,000 crates
7 crates
13,000
25
520
Strawberries: Picking (50 per
cent by seasonal workers)
9,120 cratest"
10 crates
912
25
37
Totals
148,809
25
5,953 man-months
Table continued on next page,
tn
Table continued.
Hit-'- lip m f3
rl V ~ • X X CwLfX C
xvcvjuxiuu riUiirucX
P.y*r» n r r\A + !>. g V
o J. ^ c \J i w<-<'n:> j\
Oi i+nn+ r\ o rnp n — n v
llJcLIl— tlctj &
H Tr c*
/*\ T llf ^ V* 1^ (Ci V»
6 + 0)^ p
1 64.<5
P6
6j1
0 1 7 t nn c!
d 776
P6
J. c*
270 acrps
?i -''S hnuTc; n P r* m^*, i*p
qo
?6
A
'x
Fert, i li zinc
400 acresf"
1-0 acre
400
26
1 6
X \J
Cucumbers: Picking
278 tonsf
700 Dounds
f V/ L^wVAXXvXw
795
26
31
wX ' •
Peas: Pickin"?
117.600 hamoers
10 ViRmnPT'^
11 7fiO
X X f f tj w
PeDDers (bell/! Pickine
42.000 crates
PO f^TAt PQ
? 1 00
P6
ox
Tomatoes: Pickine for cannerv
16.056 tons
2 500 Dounrl<?
1 ? fi4S
Xw y (J't«-'
AQA
Picking for ma,rket and shin—
ping^
5,000 lugs
30 lugs
167
13
14 (for 13 days)
Annies: Pickine
3.372 tons
2 200 DOunds
066
n 8
X X o
Apricots: Pruning
1,365 acres
0.25 acre
5 ,460
13
420 fl5th— 30th)
Pears: Picking
10,388 tons
0.75 ton
13,851
26
533
Cuttine for drvine
V \A V ^ 1 1 A w X ^X A J ^ X Af^
469 tons
1 000 nniinrtc!
26 5 hours Der
^ X ■ V ^A A ^ W w A
fresh tonO
A A w 11 w w X X ^
9'^R
B
O
Tlfi flat— 10+h^
Other labor in dry yards
50 per cent
of jiob
2, 485
26
Prunes: Picking up
55.800 tons
2 000 DoiinHq
5S ftOf;
P6
2,146
Drvine
55,800 tons
fv»pcVi + nn u
P6
1 7RP
Walnuts: Knockine. nickine ud
* * «k X X VA V w • XXIX \^ A\ ^ X X • ^ ^ ^\ ^ X X ^> \A ^
and hulling by hand
1 "t on s
•&> V W V vX X W
POO nonnH<5
X 1 \J*J\J
X «J
10'=^ M R+ K "^nt V\ ^
Knockine and nickiriff uo
1 .^I^ t ona
"^"^"^ nmiM/^o
7QR
\ xDxn-^ouT-n )
Hulling by machine (by
regular help)
2,5 tons
— (I5th-30th)
1 1 Ann
^ on
4<£0
Totals
175,624
26
6,755 man-months
October
Suear beets: ToDDine and loaHincr
Q RQ? tnnc!
D "tons
X , oHy
OA
Bea.ns f pI" t^i nc^ ) • Pi c\c^ r\&
. A^^ UllO ^oCA.l.Xi^^« Xa. V> aV X Ix^
U • 1 r T. on
O Q
C , OOo
c4
lUU
Celery: Cutting
40-000 crates
PR f*y^ + p«5
PA
D /
Peas: Picking
151,200 hampers
10 hampers
15,120
24
630
Peppers (bell): Picking
48,000 crates
20 crates
2,400
24
100
Tomatoes: Picking for cannery
24,084 tons
2,500 pounds
19,268
24
803
Picking for market and ship-
Ding
10,000 lues
30 luKs
334
24
Table continued on next page.
( • . - , . •
i t ' • \ ' '
i ■ ■ ■ , :'
i
i ■. . .' •"
? '■• . • * •
, — ^ ^* ^ "^•.''i • -3-
t
-
s
^ . . , . , I - • .
• - . ^ _ 1 ;
■ * ■ t ■ ■
Table continued.
1
Required
Available
Required number
Month
Crop and task
Size of task
Output per man-day
man-days
days
of workers*
October
Apples: Picking
1,686 tons
2,200 pounds
1,535
24
64
(cont .)
Apricots: Pruning
3,411 acres t
0,25 acre
13,644
24
552
(I0th-31st)
Grapes: Picking
6,639 tons
1 ton
6,639
16
415
Pears: Picking
1,731 tons
0.75 ton
2,308
12
193
(lst-15th)
Prunes: Pruning
2,900 acres'f
0.33 acre
8,70L
12
7 25
(I5th-31st)
Disposing of brush
2,900 acres'''
2.5 acres
1,160
12
97
(l5th-3Lst)
Picking up
9,300 Ions
2,000 pounds
9,300
7
1,330
{lst--7th)
Drying
9,300 tons
8.3 hours per
fresh ton 4
7,719
12
644
(lst-15th)
Irrigc^ting
14,485 acresf
2.5 acres
5,794
24
242
Walnuts: Harvesting and hulling
by hand
577 tons
200 pounds
5,770
24
241
Knocking and picking up by
hand
577 tons
333 pounds
3,462
24
Hulling by machine (by reg-
ular empl oy e e s )
t
2.5 tons
Raspberries: Picking
49,000 crates
7 crates
7,000
24
292
i otals
XXO ,100
4.825
man-months
November
Cauliflower: Cutting
3,250 cratest
70 crates
47
10
5
(for 10 days)
Packing
6,500 crates
125 crates
52
10
5
(for 10 days)
Celery: Cutting, trimming, and
putting in crates
160,000 crates
25' crates
6,400
24
267
(for 5 days)
Peas: Picking
4,200 hampers
10 hampers
420
5
84
Apples: Pruning
53 acres +
0.5 acre
106
12
9
(I5th-30th)
Apricots: Pruning
3,41j. acres j
0.25 acre
13,644
24
552
(lst-18th)
Grapes: Picking
6,639 tons
1 ton
6,639
15
442
Peaches: Pruning
427 acres
0.25 acre
1,708
24
72
Pears: Pruning
986 acres t
0.2 acre
4,930
24
206
Prunes: Pruning
5,795 acres T
0,33 acre
17,385
24
725
Disposing of brush
5,795 acrest
2,5 acre
2,318
24
97
Walnuts: Harvesting and hulling
by hand
178 tons
200 pounds
1,780
24
75
Knocking and picking up by
hand
178 tons
333 pounds
1,068
24
45
Hulling by machine (by
regular employees)
2,5 tons
r3
Table continued on next page.
T
• - ■ . . . ■
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Table continued.
Month
Crop and task
Required
Available
Required number
bj-ze oi tasK
man-days
days
of workers*
56 ,497
24
2,355 man-months
312 acres
0.17 acre
1,872
20
94
6,500 crates 't'
70 crates
93
20
5
13,000 crates
125 crates
104
20
6
120,000 crates
25 crates
4,800
20
240
106 acres'*"
0.5 acre
212
20
11
3,411 acres'f'
0.25 acre
13,644
20
683
6,064 acresf-
2 acres
3,032
20
152
1,107 acres
0.75 acre
1,475
20
74
427 acres
J. , 1 wo
20
86
986 acres ~^
0.2 acre
4,930
20
247
5,795 acres'^"
0.33 acres
17,385
20
870
5,795 acres
2.5 acres
2,318
20
116
51,573
20
2,579 man-months
November
( cont ,)
December
Totals
Garlic: Planting
Cauliflower: Cutting
Packing
Celery: Cutting, trimming, and
putting in crates
Apples; Pruning
Apricots: Pruning
Spraying
Grapes: Pruning
Peaches: Pruning
Pears: Pruning
Prunes: Pruning
Disposing of brush
Totals
* On a monthly basis unless otherwise stated*
f Estimated portion of job done by seasonal workers.
^ Apricot thinning in 1935 was very light. Figure represents 1935 conditions, estimated at 30 per cent of
normEwl ,
<^ From Christie, A, W., and L. C. Barnard. The principles and prectice of sun drying fruit. California Agr.
Exp. Sta. Bui. 388. 1925.
^ Cucumbers for pickling are picked continuously, the patches being covered every two or three days, usually
requiring about one person per acre.
00
TABLE 4
Summary of Seasonal Labor Needs by Months
Santa Clara County
1935
Monun
' Required man-days
01 seasonax laoor
Available
WO Trz uay s
Required man-months
of seasonal labor
January
40,857
19
2,151
February
35,033
22
1,593
March
22,989
22
1,045
April
31,072
23
1,351
May
76,574
25
3,063
June
90,882
26
3,496
July
175,873
26
6,765
August
148,809
25
5,953
September
175,624
26
6,755
October
115,788
24
4,825
November
56,497
24
2,355
December
51,573
20
2,579
Total
1,021,571
41,931
♦
>