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Produce growers are searching for long-term solutions not just a short-term fix when it comes to agricultural labor. However, lawmakers and the farming community are mixed when it comes to those different solutions. The Ag Guest worker Act, introduced by Chairman Bob Goodlatte cleared the House Judiciary Committee in late October. It’s designed to replace the H-2A Program. That’s not the only piece of legislation floating around Congress. Lawmaker Lamar Smith introduced legislation called the Legal Workforce Act, which could mandate employers to use the e-verify system to check legal status of agricultural employees. It’s a tug-of-war battle to see which piece of legislation proposed at roughly the same time will work for farmers. AgDay national reporter Betsy Jibben talked with West Coast produce growers Neil Nagata with Nagata Bros. Farms in Oceanside, Ca., and Al Stehly with Rockwood Ranch in Escondido, Ca., about their challenges and thoughts on potential legislation. Betsy also talked with Tom Nassif, president and CEO of Western Growers as well. Listen to the full AgDay segment above.
Food Fight Breaks Out Over Fresh Fruit-and-Vegetable Packaging
The world may produce the least wine this year in half a century,
Producers are one step closer to a new guest worker program designed to get more agricultural labor help to operations. The Ag. Guest Worker Bill barely clearing the House Judiciary committee by a vote of 17 to 16 on Wednesday. The bill is designed to replace the current H2A program.
California’s Napa and Sonoma Valleys are continuing to clean up after recent wildfires swept through the area.
Some South Texas pecan crops damaged by Hurricane Harvey
A Rhode Island grower breaks record with massive pumpkin
Florida’s Orange Crop at 76-Year Low Crushed by Hurricane Irma
Florida Orange Crop Seen Plunging to 71-Year Low After Irma
Blueberries are widely recommended as part of a heart-healthy diet, but they can also play a role in fighting cervical cancer.
Two uncharacteristic colors in the world of wine are creating a buzz in an industry that’s been dominated by rosé, red and white.
Another round of lemon harvest will begin soon in southern California.
The National Potato Council and a dozen other U.S. state and regional potato associations on Aug. 16 thanked Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue for his support of expanded U.S. fresh potato exports to Mexico.
Watch the on-scene video and read about the Quebec Produce Marketing Association’s successful convention.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Pharr, Texas, recently stopped a load of limes containing $1.86 million in cocaine.
(UPDATED, Aug. 14) Sparking a 400-point rally in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the United States Trade Representative said Aug. 13 the U.S. will delay tariffs on some imports from China until Dec. 15.
George Pitsikoulis was born into the produce business — almost literally.
Riverside, Calif.-based Index Fresh is partnering with growers in Colombia to bring hass avocados to the U.S. market.
The POM Group of Mississauga Ontario has announced the release of a new line of fresh pomegranate arils, under the Royal brand.
The Customs and Border Protection seized almost four tons of marijuana in a truck hauling jalapenos at the Otay Mesa cargo facility in San Diego.
Led by fast-rising imports of cherries, China is claiming a greater share of Chilean stone fruit exports.
(UPDATED, 1:28 p.m.) Mexican tomato growers and the U.S. Commerce Department struck a deal for a new tomato suspension agreement late Aug. 20.
When Jane Collin, 28, category manager at Sobeys in Montreal, heard her name called as the 2019 Next-Gen intern winner at the Quebec Produce Marketing Association Convention, she stood tall.
The 2019 U.S. cranberry crop is up 1% compared to 2018, according to a new crop forecast from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The Packer’s Tom Karst visits Aug. 14 with Gerrit (Gert) Kema, professor and researcher at Wageningen University in the Netherlands about the recent discovery of Panama disease in Latin America.
(UPDATED, Aug. 13) Plant health officials in Colombia have declared a national emergency after declaring the presence of the banana disease Fusarium wilt tropical race 4 (TR4) in La Guajira.
The 2019 U.S. apple crop is up 4% compared with a year ago, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s first forecast.
We heard a lot of good things about the nearby Market Basket location while touring the Boston Market Terminal and New England Produce Center — so we stopped by ourselves to check out why it got such high praise.
BOSTON — This Northeast U.S. region marked by wealth, smaller independent retailers, ethnic diversity and high-end foodservice keeps adjusting to today’s challenges to feed its people and those beyond its borders.
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced the 18 companies selected for round one of the Grow-NY food innovation and agriculture technology business challenge.