A labor dispute involving longshoremen that resulted in no ships being loaded and unloaded at 29 West Coast ports this past weekend is having serious consequences for the Valley's citrus industry.
"Fruit is rotting on the docks, sales are being canceled by the customer and our industry has slowed its harvesting so as not to place matured fruit into the marketplace," state a press release from California Citrus Mutual, the Exeter-based trade association representing about 2,200 California citrus growers.
The comments stem from a reported work slowdown over the past three months by members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union over lack of progress in labor contract negotiations.
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