Colorado farmers make good use of ready-made workforce
Colorado farmers make good use of ready-made workforce
AVONDALE, CO -- The temperature was in the 90s as a group of 10 yellow- clad women made their way back and forth across Joe Pisciotta's melon field east of Pueblo, CO, hoeing weeds and chatting amiably among themselves.
Nearby, a uniformed man, himself with a hoe, simultaneously dug at weeds and watched the women's progress.
The man, Correctional Industries Supervisor Eric Letendre, is employed by the Colorado Department of Corrections, as are, in a less direct way, the women.
All inmates at the minimum-security La Vista Correctional Facility in Pueblo, the women are part of a pilot program that was put into play by Colorado state Rep. Dorothy Butcher (D-Pueblo) and several area farmers. The farmers, who include Mr. Pisciotta, contract with the Department of Corrections and see a full crew show up each day from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. to work their fields.
It's a win-win arrangement, providing field help for farmers who are strapped for employees this year, and providing time outside as well as a salary of $4 per day for the inmates.
The Department of Corrections "has an unlimited supply of people, and we have a full crew every day," said Mr. Pisciotta. It's going much better than we expected, and the women do a really good job. Without this program, I think I'd be struggling for help."
Pisciotta Farms & Produce Marketing is one of five farms taking part in the program, which involves "absolutely no paperwork," Mr. Pisciotta said. "DOC supplies all the water for the workers, all the tools, and we pay monthly just like a regular monthly service. All the workers speak English, and they've been screened health-wise before they come. And the guard is basically the crew leader."
Mr. Letendre said that the women are all non-violent offenders, and no one among them has been convicted of a sex offense. Many are within months of release, and as Mr. Pisciotta said, "They are picked for their trustworthiness." He added, "It might cost a little more, but we won't have to weed as much. In fact, this will end up costing us less in the end."
The program was conceived "to get awareness of our labor problem, Mr. Pisciotta said. "What we need is a viable guest worker program."
Nearby, a uniformed man, himself with a hoe, simultaneously dug at weeds and watched the women's progress.
The man, Correctional Industries Supervisor Eric Letendre, is employed by the Colorado Department of Corrections, as are, in a less direct way, the women.
All inmates at the minimum-security La Vista Correctional Facility in Pueblo, the women are part of a pilot program that was put into play by Colorado state Rep. Dorothy Butcher (D-Pueblo) and several area farmers. The farmers, who include Mr. Pisciotta, contract with the Department of Corrections and see a full crew show up each day from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. to work their fields.
It's a win-win arrangement, providing field help for farmers who are strapped for employees this year, and providing time outside as well as a salary of $4 per day for the inmates.
The Department of Corrections "has an unlimited supply of people, and we have a full crew every day," said Mr. Pisciotta. It's going much better than we expected, and the women do a really good job. Without this program, I think I'd be struggling for help."
Pisciotta Farms & Produce Marketing is one of five farms taking part in the program, which involves "absolutely no paperwork," Mr. Pisciotta said. "DOC supplies all the water for the workers, all the tools, and we pay monthly just like a regular monthly service. All the workers speak English, and they've been screened health-wise before they come. And the guard is basically the crew leader."
Mr. Letendre said that the women are all non-violent offenders, and no one among them has been convicted of a sex offense. Many are within months of release, and as Mr. Pisciotta said, "They are picked for their trustworthiness." He added, "It might cost a little more, but we won't have to weed as much. In fact, this will end up costing us less in the end."
The program was conceived "to get awareness of our labor problem, Mr. Pisciotta said. "What we need is a viable guest worker program."
