March 2025 - 9

LEGISLATION
What is your biggest
concern of the new
presidency for growers of
fruit and vegetables?
Resnick: Western Growers will
continue to advocate for sensible
immigration enforcement policies
that prioritize public safety while
recognizing the vital role agricultural
workers play in ensuring a stable and
affordable domestic food supply. On
a more optimistic note, we remain
hopeful for progress in advancing
meaningful agricultural labor reform
through legislative or regulatory
initiatives, alongside increased
investment in automation and
technology to help mitigate rising
labor costs.
How will the immigration/
labor issue be dealt with
for growers of fruit and
vegetables?
Adcock: The viability of American
growers relies on access to an
affordable and stable workforce.
However, the produce sector
continues to grapple with severe labor
shortages and escalating costs that
often exceed crop values. The H-2A
program remains a critical resource
for growers, yet decades of inaction
have rendered it cumbersome
and unreliable. IFPA advocates for
meaningful labor reform that enables
growers to meet consumer demand
while protecting the rights and wellbeing
of temporary foreign workers.
Recent court cases halted
enforcement of a rule amending
H-2A visa program regulations.
The rulings offer a vital reprieve
to farmers nationwide who rely on
the program for seasonal labor. In
partnership with co-plaintiffs, IFPA
argued that the regulation exceeded
the Department of Labor's statutory
authority, imposed unconstitutional
demands on agricultural employers
and created significant disruptions
across the farming industry.
IFPA remains committed to
securing a final decision that declares
the rule and its requirements
VEGETABLEGROWERSNEWS.COM | 9
unenforceable. The H-2A visa
program is a critical source of labor
for the fresh produce and floral
industries, enabling employers facing
domestic labor shortages to hire
foreign workers for temporary or
seasonal agricultural tasks such as
planting, cultivating and harvesting.
Over the years, H-2A use has
become more widespread, turning
the program into an essential
solution for meeting producers'
labor needs and providing a legal
and structured framework for
workers to perform specific jobs
within defined timeframes.
However, the program is hindered
by excessive and cumbersome
requirements that limit its
effectiveness. That is why IFPA will
push to rollback H-2A regulations put
in place by the Biden Administration
and work with Congress and the
Trump administration to modernize
this important tool for American
farmers to provide the stability
and predictability needed to feed
the world.
The fresh produce and floral
supply chain urgently needs reliable
labor in the fields and orchards,
but workforce challenges extend
across the entire supply chain. IFPA
remains committed to advocating
for long-term workforce stability
by urging Congress and regulators
to take decisive action, as seen in
resolving labor disputes in ports,
railroads and trucking.
Dillon: We are seeing signs that
President Trump will be aggressive
with immigration. Given that 40%
to 50% of agricultural labor is
undocumented and that organic is
even more labor-dependent than
conventional specialty crops, this
will have a significant impact. Labor
costs will increase and farmers may
reduce their cultivated acres, leading
to higher prices for consumers of
organic produce.
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March 2025

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March 2025
