Higher wages, water regulations, immigration policies and health care costs are some of the top concerns for California fruit growers, packers and shippers in 2021.
The California Fresh Fruit Association, Fresno, surveyed its members to rank the top issues to focus its efforts for the year, according to a news release.
“As we saw in 2020, the California fresh fruit industry continues to be impacted by increasing regulatory requirements, labor and wage cost increases, and water availability all while continuing to provide the nation and world with quality fresh produce,” association president Ian LeMay said in the release.
The association will continue to advocate for the industry on these issues and more in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., he said.
The survey showed that the most important issues for the state’s fruit suppliers are:
- Increasing wage costs (base/minimum wages/overtime thresholds);
- Groundwater management requirements;
- Federal immigration policies addressing current and future labor forces;
- Labor regulatory compliance;
- Water supply availability, curtailment;
- Health care costs (policy costs/paid sick leave);
- Immigration enforcement;
- Federal and state food safety compliance requirements;
- Plant health materials (pesticides, herbicides, fungicides); and
- Workers’ compensation costs.
Association staff acknowledged that, while not specifically listed, issues surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to have a big influence on all advocacy efforts that the association undertakes throughout 2021.
