Some Texas farmers and produce companies are joining with non-profit groups to call for lawmakers in Washington to make changes to the guest worker program for farm laborers. They say it's becoming increasingly difficult to find people willing to harvest crops in Texas.
“We are feeding the world with healthy, nutritious fruits and vegetables,” said Bret Erickson with Little Bear Produce in Edinburg. “Unfortunately, our ability to efficiently produce these fruits and vegetables has been under threat for decades, as labor availability has severely declined. We are now reaching a breaking point for business survival and consumers are paying record-high food prices.”
A national study showed that the number of full-time crop and field workers in the U.S. declined by more than 20 percent between 2002 and 2014. Figures from the U.S. Department of Labor show that more than 90 percent of jobs for planting, cultivating or harvesting crops are held by non-U.S. workers.
“In 2019 and 2021, the U.S. House passed the Farm Workforce Modernization Act with bipartisan support,” said Juan Carlos Cerda with the American Business Immigration Coalition. “Now, it’s time for the Senate and our Senators from Texas to do their job and prove the House legislation and get solutions onto the floor.”
The bill would make changes to the H-2A work visa program for agricultural guest workers. It would set up a merit-based visa program designed for the agricultural sector.
Some Texas farmers and business organizations say the problem finding workers is driving some farms out of business, and those that remain are facing higher costs that are being passed on to Texas families.
“The survival of companies like ours is being threatened,” said Bret Erickson with Little Bear Produce. “American farmers are shutting down their farms in record numbers across America because they can not find the labor they need, and the cost of doing business has become unsustainable.”
The American Farm Bureau Federation says grocery bills are rising at their fastest pace in more than 40 years.
“Food prices are climbing in the face of a projected multi-year inflationary period, and our officials can help prevent or at least limit some of those increases by addressing an issue that has been long-standing here in this country,” said Texas International Produce Association President Dante Galeazzi.
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