Flathead cherries

Montana’s Flathead Valley cherry industry relies heavily on migrant labor. This year, President Donald Trump’s immigration policies threw the industry into a new level of uncertainty. This year, workers hesitated to cross state lines.

If you’ve driven along Flathead Lake in the summer, you’re familiar with the rows of cherry trees and roadside stands selling the bright red fruit. But last year, a freeze in January killed nearly all of the summer crop. Growers say this year will be better.

Usually, millions of pounds of the fruit can be harvested each season, but this year, cherry growers in the Flathead Valley are lucky to be able to harvest thousands of pounds.

Several hundred people rallied in Missoula and Kalispell Wednesday to protest the Trump administration’s policy of separating families attempting to enter…