A Lot of Lettuce

Lettuce is constantly being trucked down the roads. We never go anyplace without seeing several loads of veggies headed to market. Agriculture accounts for 50 percent of the economy for this area. Yuma County has 175,000 acres of farmland under irrigation which, in turn, produces 90 percent of the country's winter vegetables. 50,000 workers are employed daily by the produce industry and the greatest number of these come from Mexico, being bussed over the border before dawn and returned after dark. It's back-breaking work that pays well, but farmers are complaining about labor shortages. Since the produce industry brings in 3.2 billion dollars per year, their concern is understandable. However you look at it, that's a lot of lettuce!