In keeping with last week’s story about the Secrest laborer’s camp, I found an article by Wally Smith dated July 10, 1980.
” A labor organizer on the air a few days ago talked about his new farm union. He severely criticized Okanagan fruit growers’ poor accomodation, and lack of any accomodation for fruit pickers. He also denounced low wages for cherry pickers and mentioned $2.90 an hour paid for this work.

Of course Mr. Labor Organizer failed to mention that cherry picking is generally piece work; the grower pays for the amount of work accomplished and it works out at so much a pound for the cherries picked.

A good cherry picker has little trouble earning $5.00 to $6.00 an hour and some will do better. A cherry picker who can only earn $2.90 an hour is not worth any more, and he is not any great help to the grower who must get his cherries off the trees as quickly as possible.Five good cherry pickers will harvest as much fruit in one day as ten poor pickers, and do it with half the equipment in ladders and pails. That’s no small consideration.

The labor organizer does have a point when he complains about poor housing accommodation for the pickers.  Good accommodation is lacking in many orchards where pickers are hired; other growers have no accommodation at all.

Cabins, furniture, and utensils can add up to a big expense for the grower especially when , as all too frequently, he is the victim of thievery, vandalism, and downright carelessness.

I don’t know what the answer is, but the present situation does leave something to be desired.”

Today, in 2014, the Secrest facility is the answer for the lack of accommodation that has plagued the fruit growing industry for many years. Wally would be well pleased with the commitment given by growers, interested organizations, and government, to see this development come to fruition.