Selah Company Closing Prosser Apple Packing Operations in October

Zirkle Fruit Company in Selah will close its apple packing operations in Prosser starting in October leaving 300 people without jobs. The company says it's part of a plan to improve efficiency and it also puts the company in a better position to respond to customer requests.
Zirkle is also saying it may end the blueberry harvest early because of a mandated wage increase for blueberry pickers. The 50% wage increased is a result of an order by the U.S. Department of Labor. An August 29 hearing is set in which a federal judge will make a decision on whether the increase will stand.
The company filed a lawsuit earlier this month saying the wage increase would cause a major increase "or calamitous" increase in the cost of labor.