Labor

Walmart supports responsible labor at Mexican produce farms

The Walmart Foundation recently gave the Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) a $1.2 million grant to advance responsible labor practices through workforce development programs on fresh produce farms in Mexico, according to a press release. EFI is... more »

Update: Industry reacts to DOL proposed rule to streamline H-2A program

The Department of Labor (DOL) on July 15 proposed a rule to "modernize and improve" the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Labor Certification Program. According to the proposal, the reforms would: Streamline the H-2A application process by... more »

Webinar on H-2A shared by National Council of Ag Employers

The National Council of Agricultural Employers' (NCAE) inaugural educational webinar “H-2A 101” was "a terrific success. In fact, it was so popular that the training sold out." The webinar was hosted by Tom Bortnyk, vice... more »

United Fresh publishes 2019 Produce Industry Compensation & Benefits Report

The United Fresh Produce Association has published the fifth edition of its Produce Industry Compensation & Benefits Report, an expansive research resource that assists produce industry employers in understanding critical compensation benchmarks. The report includes... more »

Survey shows workforce deficiencies for growers

Scarce labor availability continued to plague fruit growers in 2018, according to responses to an agriculture labor survey conducted by Fruit Growers News. Inching up one percentage point from 2017’s FGN survey tally, 41% of... more »

Washington state measure addresses increased H-2A foreign labor use

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on May 22 signed legislation that will allow the state’s Employment Security Department (ESD) to ensure foreign workers under the federal H-2A program have the support they need on the job... more »

‘Future Orchard Production System’ drives orchard outlook

With heightened attention being given to labor-saving robotic harvesters and other innovative tools for tree fruit growers, a continued concentration is being given to the development of orchard planting systems that will be able to... more »

Diving into the ‘first commercial robotic apple harvest’

Robots are in an orchard. This is not a drill. Machines took in the harvest at T&G Global orchards in Hawkes Bay, a large apple production area in New Zealand where the picking season runs... more »