Texas' population is growing, but the number of people working to grow our food is shrinking. This is part of a national trend. In the 1950s, about 10% of the American labor force did some kind of agricultural work. Today, it's less than 1%.
There have been technological advances in the last 70 years that mean, in some parts of farming, fewer workers are needed than used to. But there are also widespread labor shortages in the agricultural sector, and experts say if the causes behind these shortages aren't addressed, they will continue to get worse.
On Sapling Farms in southern Cooke County, not far from Denton, there is a "help wanted" sign hanging on the front gate. This is a small working farm that sells directly to consumers and to some wholesalers, as well as at farmers' markets. Selvi Palaniswamy runs the farm with her daughter, Davika.
In addition to several acres of vegetables and herbs, they now also raise cattle, chickens, and ducks. They've got beehives and a hydroponic system in a storage container. Palaniswamy said she would love to expand her operation, which she started in 2018, but it's hard to find enough helping hands. They have a couple of paid workers and some volunteers who help when it's time to harvest. But it's hard work. Sometimes, a new worker will show up for a day or two and then not come back.
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