Answer:
The reason why farmers are unable to pick up the plentiful fruit that is being produced and harvested in California, in the novel "Grapes of Wrath", is that although there is lots of produce to be picked, the prices, both for selling and of manual labor, have been driven down by the bigger companies, and thus, small farmers and collectors cannot afford to harvest, pick and sell all that produce. They depend now on bigger companies, and on the prices set by them, to at least have enough to survive.
Explanation:
"The Grapes of Wrath" is one of the many novels that was written by American author John Steinbeck, and which was published in 1939. On chapter 25, Steinbeck begins by talking about the bountiful produce of California, and those responsible, admirable men, who are behind such success. He praises the big farmers, and especially the scientists who have managed to increase production and improve the health of the land, the plants and the produce. However, at some point, he also begins to talk about how food is being laid to waste, with fruit falling from trees and being eaten by animals, or being burned, because the bigger corporations have forced the selling prices, and wages, down, and thus, have affected the small farmers, and laborers who once had benefited for this plentiful produce. Poverty increases, despite the surpluss, because except for the big corporations, no one else can afford to pick, treat, and sell the produce.
