WPPC attendees rally around immigration reform
WPPC attendees rally around immigration reform
WASHINGTON -- Facing an urgency in the field and in Congress, the United Fresh Produce Association singled out immigration reform as its most important issue, attracting top congressional and Bush administration officials to respond to the crisis at the Washington Public Policy Conference, held here Sept. 13.
While it is unclear whether the agriculture industry will see Congress create a stable workforce this year, the group traveled to Washington to tell its story about the cost of not fixing the foreign worker system.
"We're the canary in the coal mine," United Fresh Produce Association President Tom Stenzel told The Produce News. The agriculture industry may be the first sector to face a growing labor shortage, but then the tightened border restrictions will severely affect other service sectors, he warned.
"The choice is simple: import needed labor or import our food," said Maureen Marshall, co-chairman of United and vice president of Torrey Farms Inc. She said that New York farmers are facing a 40-50 percent shortage of labor right now, which is resulting in fruit rotting in the fields. Hers was just one of several similar stories echoed during the Washington meeting.
"American agriculture needs Congress to step up now," said Mr. Stenzel, who spoke at an immigration reform rally flanked by hundreds of produce business leaders on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol.
Havana-born Commerce Department Secretary Carlos Gutierrez reassured the group of the Bush administration's commitment to a comprehensive immigration reform bill. The Bush administration's vision is to protect the border and recognize the role of foreign labor in growing the economy, he said.
"Some people say there is a shortage of jobs, not a shortage of labor. If you see differently, let them know," he said before the group knocked on the doors of members of Congress.
Three hundred produce industry members representing 33 states attended the three-day meeting -- a record attendance for the conference. But the numbers are bound to rise even higher with the newly added members from the International Fresh-cut Produce merger. "That will take a little time," said Mr. Stenzel.
Along with immigration reform, the trade association focused on another immediate issue: a proposed regulation that would add fruits and vegetables to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants & Children. The $500 million boost in fruit and vegetable sales will get WIC moms shopping in the fresh produce aisles of supermarkets for the first time, said Lorelei DiSogra, United's vice president of nutrition and health.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has proposed for the first time to give women an $8 per month voucher and WIC-enrolled children a $6 voucher to buy fresh fruits and vegetables.
The group praised USDA for updating the food program but said that USDA should increase the amount of the vouchers and publish a final rule by the spring.
During a session on nutrition issues, speakers acknowledged the well-funded opposition from the milk, cheese, juice and egg producers.
"The push back from these industries is incredible," said Rev. Douglas Greenaway, executive director of the National WIC Association. The group is also asking for the vouchers to apply to all fresh fruits and vegetables, including white potatoes, and for USDA to not allow state WIC agencies to set restrictions on the vouchers.
Funding for the Specialty Crop Block Grants and the expansion of the fruit and vegetable school snack program were other topics at the morning briefing sessions, along with the industry's wish list for a specialty crop section of the 2007 farm bill.
United was hoping to have the Specialty Crops Farm Bill Act introduced during the conference, but it was delayed until the end of September, said Mr. Stenzel.
One noticeably absent debate at the meeting was the country-of-origin labeling bill, the details of which have yet to be publicly released. Retail and produce groups have apparently reached an agreement on a voluntary labeling bill for fruits and vegetables.
"We're working hard on the issue," said Robert Guenther, United's senior vice president for public policy. "We hope to have legislation introduced later this year."
While it is unclear whether the agriculture industry will see Congress create a stable workforce this year, the group traveled to Washington to tell its story about the cost of not fixing the foreign worker system.
"We're the canary in the coal mine," United Fresh Produce Association President Tom Stenzel told The Produce News. The agriculture industry may be the first sector to face a growing labor shortage, but then the tightened border restrictions will severely affect other service sectors, he warned.
"The choice is simple: import needed labor or import our food," said Maureen Marshall, co-chairman of United and vice president of Torrey Farms Inc. She said that New York farmers are facing a 40-50 percent shortage of labor right now, which is resulting in fruit rotting in the fields. Hers was just one of several similar stories echoed during the Washington meeting.
"American agriculture needs Congress to step up now," said Mr. Stenzel, who spoke at an immigration reform rally flanked by hundreds of produce business leaders on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol.
Havana-born Commerce Department Secretary Carlos Gutierrez reassured the group of the Bush administration's commitment to a comprehensive immigration reform bill. The Bush administration's vision is to protect the border and recognize the role of foreign labor in growing the economy, he said.
"Some people say there is a shortage of jobs, not a shortage of labor. If you see differently, let them know," he said before the group knocked on the doors of members of Congress.
Three hundred produce industry members representing 33 states attended the three-day meeting -- a record attendance for the conference. But the numbers are bound to rise even higher with the newly added members from the International Fresh-cut Produce merger. "That will take a little time," said Mr. Stenzel.
Along with immigration reform, the trade association focused on another immediate issue: a proposed regulation that would add fruits and vegetables to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants & Children. The $500 million boost in fruit and vegetable sales will get WIC moms shopping in the fresh produce aisles of supermarkets for the first time, said Lorelei DiSogra, United's vice president of nutrition and health.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has proposed for the first time to give women an $8 per month voucher and WIC-enrolled children a $6 voucher to buy fresh fruits and vegetables.
The group praised USDA for updating the food program but said that USDA should increase the amount of the vouchers and publish a final rule by the spring.
During a session on nutrition issues, speakers acknowledged the well-funded opposition from the milk, cheese, juice and egg producers.
"The push back from these industries is incredible," said Rev. Douglas Greenaway, executive director of the National WIC Association. The group is also asking for the vouchers to apply to all fresh fruits and vegetables, including white potatoes, and for USDA to not allow state WIC agencies to set restrictions on the vouchers.
Funding for the Specialty Crop Block Grants and the expansion of the fruit and vegetable school snack program were other topics at the morning briefing sessions, along with the industry's wish list for a specialty crop section of the 2007 farm bill.
United was hoping to have the Specialty Crops Farm Bill Act introduced during the conference, but it was delayed until the end of September, said Mr. Stenzel.
One noticeably absent debate at the meeting was the country-of-origin labeling bill, the details of which have yet to be publicly released. Retail and produce groups have apparently reached an agreement on a voluntary labeling bill for fruits and vegetables.
"We're working hard on the issue," said Robert Guenther, United's senior vice president for public policy. "We hope to have legislation introduced later this year."
