Sad history in Yakima, Washington.

The Yakima trolley used to run out into the countryside until an orchard owner seized the right of way:

"...the city lost the original branch line to Henrybro/Ahtanum as Congdon Orchards, Inc. successfully sued to revert the right-of-way back to private ownership." (link)

Long ago, the same Congdon Orchards beat up American workers who were striking on the property over low wages.

"In Washington State, the white male migrant labor struggle in the Yakima Valley in 1933 fomented a battle that would equal some California labor struggles in its strength."
...
"The following day, August 24, 1933, two contingents, one in Selah and the other at Congdon Orchards west of Yakima, started picketing. Within a short amount of time, farmers armed with clubs, pick handles, and other weapons, approached strikers, forcing them to move their strike to a patch of public land nearby. The farmers, nearly outnumbering strikers two to one, exchanged words with the strikers, catalyzing a violent fight."

In summary, greedy farmers killed a cool trolley line, sold white American workers out to illegal migrant labor, and Yakima now has to deal with the Norteņo and Sureņo Mexican gang violence and crime.

I'll remember that when I buy apples.

source - [www.ebay.com]