Distortion of the free market happens because of subsidies to some and the costs passed on to others. Politicians taking care of constituencies bends free market rules. We need to end all the giveaways to business, corporations and individuals that gives us distortions and redistribution of wealth.
The point here is the government used extortion to force a private company to pay a fee and sign an admission of guilt with their only other option being to let their crop spoil and go out of business.
I am sure if the workers were dues paying union members there would be no problem. All of the workers would then make the same amount and there would be no incentive for any to work faster to make more money than the slower pickers. The cost increases would either be passes on as the market allowed or your blue berries will be from China or South America. Another bit of our job base forced overseas by fascism and unions.