About Gary Larsen's problem ("Pasco farmer abandons asparagus field," April 26) in getting workers into his fields, and my problem finding affordable local asparagus, perhaps if he bumped up the wages his problem would be solved.

From what I can cipher from the article, one worker can harvest three acres in 10 hours. That works out to be about $30 per acre at minimum wage. If an acre produces even only 300 pounds, the cost to harvest is about a dime per pound. So, if if my numbers are anywhere near correct, and Gary doubled the wage, it would add about 10 cents per pound at the Red Apple -- which sells fresh local asparagus at a $1.50 per pound. Would I have been willing to pay $1.60 per pound to get my share of that 100 acres harvested? Absolutely!

John Hinckley, Kennewick