I'm glad you referenced the May 27 NYTimes article, With Migrant Workers in Short Supply, A Farmer Looks to Machines, the reporter tells the story of Jim Bittner, a farmer in upstate New York who cut down 25 acres of cherry trees because he was concerned he wouldn’t have enough workers to harvest the fruit. This caught my attention for two reasons — first, since I live just outside Washington, DC, I have a special affinity for cherry trees. Yes, I know that the trees surrounding the tidal basin that spill forth blossoms in frothy splendor each spring aren’t the same kind of tree that Mr. Bittner grows (or should I say grew), but they’re truly gorgeous.

I have lots of thoughts on why this is important, so please go to my blog Down to Earth and chime in. Thanks! Lisa