Fruit Growers News

3 weeks ago | fruitgrowersnews.com | Doug Ohlemeier

Frustration over how fruit and vegetable growers can afford to pay people to harvest their crops is growing in the nation’s orchards, vineyards and fields. As H-2A becomes more difficult to use by the year, growers find escalating increases in Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWR) and associated costs not only challenging but also threats to their farms’ existence. The labor headaches have forced specialty crops growers to reduce acreage, with some growers even considering leaving the business.

3 weeks ago | fruitgrowersnews.com | Doug Ohlemeier

The blueberry industry is debating increasing U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) assessments to fortify marketing and improve blueberries’ position in the marketplace. Fresh and processed fruit growers pay $18 per ton ($0.009 per pound). The council’s steering committee is proposing an assessment of 2.5 cents per-pound increase on fresh ($50/ton) and 1.5 cents per-pound ($30/ton) on processed fruit.

3 weeks ago | fruitgrowersnews.com | Doug Ohlemeier

Along with other increasing input costs, growers are being slammed with double-digit increases in Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWR) rates. This year, the combined national average field and livestock worker AEWR wage rate is $17.74, up from last year’s $17.55 and 12% higher than $15.56 in 2022. AEWR and H-2A reform are viewed as critical to ensuring future sustainability of specialty crops, according to growers and grower organizations.

3 weeks ago | fruitgrowersnews.com | Doug Ohlemeier

Threatened by a multi-front trade war and dogged by higher costs that have slashed exports and acreage, apple growers are confronted by an uncertain future. Those challenges, including escalating labor costs, were highlighted in a May 15 USApple production webinar. Chris Gerlach, vice president of insights and analytics, provided an overview of the trials afflicting the apple industry. “The only certainty at this point is uncertainty,” he said.

1 month ago | fruitgrowersnews.com | Alexa Franco

Ask anyone in agriculture what keeps them up at night, and labor is going to come up early in the conversation. For years, Bellair Farm in Central Virginia lived that reality — trying to manage a diversified operation with a revolving door of seasonal workers, local hires and idealistic interns. Every season felt like starting over. Training from scratch. Losing key help halfway through harvest. Hoping the weather would cooperate, but also that the team would show up. It was exhausting.