| I am going from memory here... and only considering the issue of picking the lettuce and packaging it. Variables: original cost of labor $8/hour, new cost $20/hour. As well, trucking is a big industry and I haven't considered paying the truckers more, either. Look at this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxbJVqfIK1U and time the total handling time of 1 head of iceberg lettuce (the round head kind). Worst case scenario: each head is handled total for about 15 seconds, from cutting or pulling it off its stalk on the ground, quickly removing loose leaves, placing in bag, then sealing the bag and putting into boxes placed on skids. Thus we have (rounding up, allowing for breaks, turns etc.) 20 seconds per head, 3 per minute, 180 per hour. $8 / 180 = 4.4 cents of labor per head.
$20 / 180 = 11.11 OK, I am off in what I remember ... about 7 extra cents per head of lettuce vs. my remembered 5 cents. |