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Protect our Produce says federal wage mandates need to change

Eight Michigan farm groups have formed a coalition to elevate farm labor issues ahead of the November election.

“We hope to leverage Michigan status as a battleground state this fall to fix this broken system.”

Jamie Clover Adams with Product Our Produce tells Brownfield federally mandated wage increases for H-2A guest workers are unsustainable for growers.

“If nothing changes with this policy, Michigan’s fruit and vegetable growers and the massive economy that it supports is going to disappear,” she says.

She says wages for the program nationwide have increased 60 percent over the last decade, with this year costing Michigan farmers about $30 per hour when including additional costs like housing, transportation, and other requirements.

“That federally mandated minimum wage has increased 20 percent in the last two years,” she says. “Michigan’s minimum wage is capped at 3.5 percent per year, and all of this is happening at the same time imports have surged.”

Clover Adams says 16,000 acres of specialty crop have been lost over the past ten years and continued reductions will be devastating for rural communities.

The fresh produce industry contributes more than $6 billion to Michigan’s economy annually.

The Product Our Produce Coalition includes the Michigan Agribusiness Association, Michigan Asparagus Association, Michigan Blueberry Commission, Michigan Farm Bureau, Michigan State Horticultural Society, Michigan Tree Fruit Commission, Michigan Vegetable Council, and Potato Growers of Michigan.

AUDIO: Jamie Clover Adams, Product Our Produce Coalition