Feb 28, 2025

Michigan coalition challenges AEWR increases: H-2A labor compliance fruit growers

Michigan’s fruit and vegetable industry leaders have joined forces to highlight the challenges of H-2A labor compliance fruit growers face as Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWR) rise.

The Protect Our Produce Coalition, a state-led public relations effort, seeks to educate policymakers about the escalating burden federal wage mandates place on growers.

Jamie Clover Adams, executive director of the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board, is spearheading the initiative.

“The objective of the campaign is to drive awareness of how existing federal policies are threatening domestic production of specialty crops and consideration of how the consequences of these policies create winners — foreign produce — and losers — seasonal workers, American farmers and food consumers,” Clover Adams said.

She emphasized that the coalition complements national efforts. “Our proximity to growers makes us uniquely positioned to effectively educate policymakers on the immediate and long-term impacts their action or inaction have on our growers and underscore the urgent need for action.”

Founding coalition members

The Protect Our Produce Coalition includes:

• Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board
• Michigan Blueberry Commission
• Michigan State Horticultural Society
• Michigan Tree Fruit Commission
• Michigan Vegetable Council
• Potato Growers of Michigan
• Cherry Marketing Institute
• Michigan Agribusiness Association
• Michigan Farm Bureau

Clover Adams said the group ultimately plans to work with grower organizations in other states.

Growers galvanized by rising wages

Michigan asparagus growers began organizing after the H-2A labor rate jumped more than $3 per hour between 2022 and 2023. Many felt policymakers were ignoring the negative impact on these wage hikes.

“Michigan asparagus growers who also grow a wide variety of vegetables and fruits see Michigan’s asparagus industry as the canary in the coal mine when it comes to the negative impact of escalating H-2A labor rates on specialty crop agriculture,” Clover Adams said.

Impact on Michigan growers

Between 2012 and 2022, Michigan lost 15,530 acres of fruit and vegetables, a 6% decline, while federally mandated wage rates rose 42.6%.

In 2023, H-2A workers harvesting asparagus earned an average of $0.21 per pound. That figure excludes housing, transportation, and farm labor contractor costs, all paid by the grower. Clover Adams said the median grower return after all expenses averaged just $0.116 per pound.

A small Michigan apple grower, for example, lost an average of $0.44 per pound on apples in 2023. Workers, however, still received wages, housing, and benefits equal to $0.14 per pound.

Campaign funding and goals

The Michigan asparagus industry contributed $100,000 to launch the Protect Our Produce Coalition. Leaders hope the campaign will amplify grower voices, highlight the economic realities of escalating AEWR, and underscore the broader impacts on the nation’s food supply.

By focusing on H-2A labor compliance challenges for fruit growers, coalition members want to ensure lawmakers understand the stakes: rising labor costs threaten not only the viability of family farms but also the competitiveness of U.S. fruit and vegetable production in the global marketplace.

—  Doug Ohlemeier, Assistant Editor