Steele, AL – One of the sponsors of Alabama's new immigration law has told angry tomato farmers that he doesn't want to change it.
Republican Sen. Scott Beason of Gardendale met with about 50 growers, workers and brokers Monday at a tomato packing shed on Chandler Mountain.
Farmers complained that the law caused them to lose workers and now they can't find anyone to pick their crops. Farmer Chad Smith says his family has tomatoes rotting on the vine and stands to lose as much as $200,000.
Also Monday, attorneys for the state asked a federal judge not to put the law on hold during an appeal. Opponents are appealing U.S. District Judge Sharon Blackburn's decision to let major portions of the law take effect.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)