South County’s summer harvest is sprouting amid a storm of quiet fear. As crops ripen under the California sun, growers and immigrant farmworkers tread a fragile path—watching the fields and watching for ICE. With immigration raids casting long shadows over East San Jose, anxiety grows across thousands of fertile acres. While the Trump administration pledges farm-friendly policies, the ground reality feels far from stable. Caught between hope and hesitation, the season now risks becoming a waiting game—where every delay could cost a crop, and every raid could cost a livelihood.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Santa Clara’s $371 million agriculture industry braces for possible labor shortages.

• ICE raids have stirred fear among undocumented and immigrant farmworkers.

• Growers say the psychological effects are already being felt, even if the labor force remains intact.

• Farms increasingly turning to H-2A visa workers, despite higher costs.

• Trump has promised to halt ICE raids on farms—but no formal directive yet issued.

• Officials urge preparation and communication with workers amid growing fear.

As South County’s farms prepare for their critical summer harvest, the atmosphere in the region’s vast agricultural zones is heavy with uncertainty. The issue looming over the fields isn’t drought or pests—but fear. Fear sparked by recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in East San Jose, which have placed immigrant farmworkers, and the growers who depend on them, in a state of cautious tension.

The harvest season, which traditionally brings life and movement to South County’s fields, now finds itself entwined with questions of labor availability, potential delays, and rising costs. Though there’s no immediate panic, the signs of nervous anticipation are becoming increasingly visible among agricultural stakeholders.

Clouds of Fear Over Growing Fields

The Santa Clara County Division of Agriculture, which monitors harvest conditions and enforces produce regulations, acknowledges that it’s still early in the season to determine the full effects of ICE activity. But officials anticipate the real consequences will become apparent as the peak harvest approaches in late summer.

“The crops are still growing, but we may begin to see labor shortages or a delay on harvests and critical agricultural practices,” said Deputy Agricultural Commissioner Helena Roberts.
“We may see the cost of labor increasing because the pool of labor might not be as large, which could lead to higher prices. If the situation gets more critical and we have less workers able to work in the fields, we may have extreme cases of growers unable to harvest their crops.”

Agriculture plays a significant role in the county’s economy. The 2023 Santa Clara County Crop Report listed the gross value of agricultural production at more than $371 million, a 3.5% increase from the previous year. But without the labor force to sustain it, growers fear the harvest season may not live up to expectations.

Farms Moving Forward, But Cautiously

Despite the quiet unease, farm operations have not yet come to a halt. Workers are still showing up. But growers report a subtle shift—one that’s psychological more than physical.

Bill Christopher, managing partner at Christopher Ranch in Gilroy, a farm widely recognized as the nation’s largest garlic producer, described the climate among his workers.

“There’s a little bit of nervousness. That’s what I’ve heard from around the area as well—no one’s not working,” Christopher said.
“I think it’s on everybody’s mind and they’re not quite sure what’s going to happen. And neither are we.”

His farm, which relies on around 2,000 seasonal workers during the summer months, is still operational. But Christopher admits the situation is volatile and subject to rapid change depending on ICE activity and political developments.

In nearby Morgan Hill, Chiala Farms—specializing in garlic and various types of peppers—has yet to see any labor disruptions. But that doesn’t mean concern is absent.

“My employees are nervous in general. What’s happening is more psychological at this point for them,” said Tim Chiala, whose family runs the farm.
“There’s not a mechanical harvest yet for a lot of our products, so we rely a lot on the labor force to come in and harvest. And if you miss your windows—a day in the middle of the season—you never get it back. It’s always on our minds.”

Navigating a Tighter Labor Market

Chiala also serves as an officer with the Santa Clara County Farm Bureau, a coalition of about 300 local farmers. He noted that while no members have approached the bureau directly with labor shortage concerns, the possibility remains ever-present.

To manage this uncertainty, many reputable farms have increasingly leaned on the federal H-2A visa program, which allows them to hire seasonal workers from outside the U.S., particularly from Mexico. These workers, though still vulnerable in some ways, are seen as less likely targets for ICE.

“A lot of us did turn to H-2A because there was a time when labor was tight and we didn’t want to risk not having crews,” Chiala explained.
“But I can’t speak for everyone. It’s more expensive and frustrating.”

Trump’s Promises, But No Concrete Action

Former President Donald Trump has recently attempted to reassure the agriculture community. In public remarks, he acknowledged that ICE raids had affected “very good, longtime workers” and suggested that his administration would pause such operations—particularly during the harvest season.

“Trump just came out and said they’ve halted all raids on farmworker activity. So that’s good,” said Christopher.
“Especially during the harvest season right now. I’m sure the administration will get something done that’s not going to be adverse to the farmers. Trump’s been a big backer of farms and having a safe food supply in the United States of America.”

Still, no formal guidance has been issued. For many in the farming community, this leaves a gap between political reassurance and on-the-ground reality.

“Most of the agricultural people feel they can work with someone like (Trump) because he is a business person. But who knows what can happen,” Chiala said.
“A lot of the reason some of us supported him was to get government out of our lives—not having it be part of our lives every single second.”

The Workers Behind the Crops

Behind the figures and forecasts, the human cost of immigration enforcement is becoming clearer. The majority of America’s farmworkers are foreign-born, and many are undocumented. Their labor powers the agricultural industry but often comes with little recognition or protection.

Advocates like Darlene Tenes, who has long worked with immigrant farmworker communities, warns that the issue goes far beyond farms.

“The United States is dependent on immigrant labor—and when you take away that immigrant labor, it is going to affect every level of society,” said Tenes.
“Some people are just not going to care until it affects them—when the price of food goes up, when there’s no one around to take care of their kid, when construction is impossible to do.”

She emphasized that undocumented workers aren’t looking to break laws—they’re looking to survive.

“As much as people complain about immigrants, you need them,” Tenes added.
“Our agriculture industry benefits off the back of undocumented labor.”

Steps Toward Preparedness

Roberts and her department have tried to bridge the trust gap by offering training and resources to farmworkers. She noted that a recent session was “well-attended,” which she sees as a positive sign.

“That means people feel safe to come to us,” said Roberts.
“I see in other venues, the participation has been really poor. I think it depends on how you engage with them—and if they trust you. Right now, people are afraid.”

Her office is urging employers to educate workers about their rights and state protocols if approached by immigration agents. Resources, including Santa Clara County’s Rapid Response Network for ICE-related incidents, are also being promoted.

For now, the harvest continues. But beneath the rows of crops and the hum of tractors lies a quieter narrative—one of fear, resilience, and a system straining to hold itself together under the weight of uncertainty.

As the harvest season unfolds across Santa Clara County, the tension between agricultural needs and immigration enforcement continues to deepen. While farmworkers press on and crops ripen, the absence of clear guidance on ICE policies leaves growers operating in a cloud of uncertainty. The fragile balance between economic survival and workforce security now hangs on decisions yet to be made at the federal level. Until then, every planted row grows not just produce—but questions. And for many in the fields, the real yield this season may be fear over fruit.

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