Clayton works the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. supplying crabs. crabmeat and other seafood. including Marylands famous oysters. to restaurants. markets. and wholesalers all over the Nation. It is the oldest working crab processing plant in the world. By employing 65 H2B workers. the company can retain over 30 full time American workers. But it is not just seafood companies that have a long history on the Eastern Shore. It is also S.E.W. Friel Cannery. which began its business over 100 years ago. Friels is the last corn cannery left from 300 that used to operate on the shore. Ten years ago. when the cannery could not find local workers. it turned to the new H2B visa program. Since then. many workers come each season and then go home year after year. They have helped this country maintain its American workforce and have paved the way for local workers to return to the cannery. Friels now employs 75 fulltime and 190 seasonal workers. along with 70 farmers and additional suppliers. Last summer. I went over to the Eastern Shore after the victory of getting an extension to the H2B visa program to meet with Latina women who come to Maryland every year under this program. I asked them "What does this program mean to you?" They told me that coming here year after year is hard work. but it means they can provide for their families. They come in April and stay until late September when the crab pots are packed up until the next season.
Keywords matched
visa H2B