Labor
The produce industry is grappling with a critical labor shortage and the escalating costs of the H-2A program, which are squeezing margins for growers, packers and shippers. Increasing regulatory pressures, such as new state-level overtime laws and wage mandates, are further driving the sector toward automation and legislative advocacy. This collection of insights explores how to optimize labor management and maintain operational efficiency in an increasingly complex landscape.
UnitedAg’s wellness centers across California’s Central Valley are trying to break down health care barriers to farmworkers through a holistic, people-focused strategy.
The California-based company says while outreach to customers is important, so too is telling the story of its employees and employment opportunities.
Following a key federal court victory, attorney Gonzalo Peralta explains why the “legal buffer” defense failed to protect a Michigan blueberry operation from human trafficking claims.
The debate over immigration and ag labor reform has been a political hot potato for decades now and has led to inaction by Congress, but leaders of the House and Senate Ag Committees say they are making it a priority for 2026.
Conflict on the farm is a normal part of working with people, and if it’s addressed early and handled respectfully, it can help teams work better together.
After years of unsustainable labor costs the industry welcomes an interim final rule that offers immediate financial relief and a path toward long-term stability.
As H-2A costs climb toward $30 an hour, Western Growers’ Walt Duflock warns that half of California’s farmers could disappear by 2052 without a revolution in harvest tech.
The Packer’s 2025 labor coverage kicked off with Christina Herrick’s labor series, and there was much more to read.
The threat of raids on agricultural operations hit hard during the summer of 2025, and it will likely continue in 2026.
A recent webinar explores how a tight labor market reduces domestic production and ultimately puts upward pressure on food pricing.
The National Council of Agricultural Employers says the state’s Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act strips American farmers and ranchers of their First Amendment rights.
The act calls for codifying the recent change in the methodology for calculating the Adverse Effect Wage Rate and streamlining the H-2A visa process.
The Orange County Register has awarded UnitedAg the Top Workplaces 2025 honor, making this the second consecutive year.
H-2A overhaul brings much-needed visa streamlining and AEWR relief, while court battles and implementation questions remain.
The lawsuit seeks to reverse the October interim final rule released by the Department of Justice, which would use state-level data to calculate the Adverse Effect Wage Rate for the H-2A guestworker program.
The pair will co-chair the coalition, succeeding Chuck Conner, to continue to work on U.S. agriculture’s farmworker issues.
As growers look to technology to augment labor needs, those working in the ag tech space say there will be an even greater relationship between workers and technology.
The National Council of Agricultural Employers, the International Fresh Produce Assocation and the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association expressed gratitude that the Office of Foreign Labor Certification will resume processing H-2A foreign guestworker visas.
The 2026 Leadership Circle Celebration recognized 34 supplier companies that have earned all five stars in the online Ethical Charter Implementation Program’s Learn, Assess, Benchmark platform.
The newly formed “Grow it Here” seeks to educate policymakers and the public on the dire need for short-term and long-term ag reform.
Some in the industry liken agtech automation to a series of football plays, running the ball down the field until funding runs out — as full automation has remained elusive.
Tim Bucher, CEO and co-founder of the agricultural technology company, shares how he took a prototype to a scalable company.
Hollay, the director of government relations for the International Fresh Produce Association, will become the National Council of Agricultural Employers’ new president and CEO as Michael Marsh retires.
UFW Foundation CEO Erica Lomeli Corcoran calls the move a “money grab for big agribusiness.”
This interim final rule is available for public comment until Dec. 1, and changes the way the Adverse Effect Wage Rate is calculated for the H-2A guestworker program.
While the stakes are high for growers, Michael Marsh of the National Council of Agricultural Employers says he sees positive momentum on bringing real, tangible relief to a broken ag labor system.
Unverified workers want documentation, want to ensure their families are protected and want to stay in this country, says Manuel Cunha, president of the Nisei Farmers League.
Labor costs continue to rise for California farmers, but skilled labor isn’t something growers are able to find with the current H-2A program. Labor experts, economists and farmers agree the current immigration system is “broken,” but a solution could be on the horizon.
Michael Marsh, the president and CEO of the national trade association, says this will bring relief to growers across the country.
Michael Marsh, president of the National Council of Agricultural Employers, explains what this ruling means for fresh produce industry businesses.