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A lack of labor interest and potential legal and political factors limit the potential of turning to a “gig economy” to decreasing food waste from produce farms.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on April 22 which puts a 60-day pause on immigration into the U.S.

Canada’s government is exempting foreign nationals who have committed to working in agriculture from COVID-19 travel bans.

Senator Dianne Feinstein has added her voice to industry leaders asking for timely processing of Mexican H-2A workers needed to harvest U.S. produce crops.

A new temporary rule will allow H-2A workers to stay in the U.S. beyond the current three-year maximum and should give U.S. growers a bigger pool of guest farmworkers to fill their needs.

Stemilt Growers has achieved a three-year Equitable Food Initiative certification at its Quincy, Wash., apple and cherry orchard operation. The company has plans to expand the program, according to a news release.

How much growers will pay for guest workers in the H-2A program in 2021 is unknown because of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s decision to suspend a report used to set wages.

The National Council of Agricultural Employers, a trade association focused on farm labor issues, will have its annual Ag Labor Forum online this year.

In a decision praised by farmworker advocates, a U.S. District Court has issued a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against the USDA’s decision in September to suspend the annual Farm Labor Survey.

Although 2020 has been a year like no other, Equitable Food Initiative continued to grow and prove its unique value to the fresh produce industry.