Hunts Point merchants show support for immigration reform
Hunts Point merchants show support for immigration reform
Saying that their livelihoods could be at risk due to the current labor situation, merchants on New York City's Hunts Point produce market are stepping up in support of immigration reform.
In a May 14 letter to U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), the merchants said that a "substantial portion" of business conducted on the market is "threatened by the fact that our suppliers in the U.S. produce market may not be able to bring their crops out of the field and orchard due to a shortage of farm workers to pick and harvest."
The market, which is comprised of more than 50 merchants and has annual revenues of $2 billion, serves over 20 million people in the tri-state region of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
The Hunts Point Terminal Produce Cooperative Association became involved in the petition at the request of Jim Allen, president of the Fishers, NY-based New York Apple Association, which is a major proponent of immigration reform. Mr. Allen contacted Myra Gordon, the executive administrative director of the market, who then approached 20 operators on the market to sign the letter.
"We are very appreciative of Myra's willingness to walk the letter door to door [at the market] for signatures," said Mr. Allen.
Ms. Gordon deflected the praise, saying that immigration reform is widely supported on the market and that there is "a crucial need to address the issue sooner rather than later. Until the issue is resolved one way or another, we need to keep New York farmers in business.
"I would be loathe to think that one day we look back and realize that we treated the farmers so shabbily that all the food has to be sourced offshore," she added.
The letter to Mr. Schumer said, "We are deeply concerned that our supply of healthful, local produce will be threatened without the passage of the AgJOBS bill. The reality is that without meaningful agricultural labor reforms, such as those put forth in AgJOBS, American farmers, food merchants and ultimately consumers will suffer."
In addition to Ms. Gordon, signatories of the letter were Stephen Katzman of S. Katzman Produce Inc.; Matthew D'Arrigo of D'Arrigo Bros. of New York Inc.; Cary Rubin of Rubin Bros. Inc.; Ira Nathel of Nathel & Nathel Inc.; Joe Palumbo of Top Banana; Jeffrey Haas of Henry Haas Inc.; Chris Armada of E. Armada Fruit & Produce; Richard Cochran of Robert T. Cochran; Cathy Hunt of D.M. Rothman; James Margiotta of J. Margiotta Co.; Mary Ellen Verrico of Morris Okun; Sal Vacca of A.J. Trucco; George Valdivia of Hunts Point Tropical; Denise Goodman of M&R Tomato Distributors; Ciro Porricelli of Jerry Porricelli Produce; Tim Motley of Food Barn; Leona Settani of Albee Tomato Co. Inc.; John Garcia of Kris-Pak Sales Corp.; and Angela Venuti of Ven-Co Produce Inc.
In a May 14 letter to U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), the merchants said that a "substantial portion" of business conducted on the market is "threatened by the fact that our suppliers in the U.S. produce market may not be able to bring their crops out of the field and orchard due to a shortage of farm workers to pick and harvest."
The market, which is comprised of more than 50 merchants and has annual revenues of $2 billion, serves over 20 million people in the tri-state region of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
The Hunts Point Terminal Produce Cooperative Association became involved in the petition at the request of Jim Allen, president of the Fishers, NY-based New York Apple Association, which is a major proponent of immigration reform. Mr. Allen contacted Myra Gordon, the executive administrative director of the market, who then approached 20 operators on the market to sign the letter.
"We are very appreciative of Myra's willingness to walk the letter door to door [at the market] for signatures," said Mr. Allen.
Ms. Gordon deflected the praise, saying that immigration reform is widely supported on the market and that there is "a crucial need to address the issue sooner rather than later. Until the issue is resolved one way or another, we need to keep New York farmers in business.
"I would be loathe to think that one day we look back and realize that we treated the farmers so shabbily that all the food has to be sourced offshore," she added.
The letter to Mr. Schumer said, "We are deeply concerned that our supply of healthful, local produce will be threatened without the passage of the AgJOBS bill. The reality is that without meaningful agricultural labor reforms, such as those put forth in AgJOBS, American farmers, food merchants and ultimately consumers will suffer."
In addition to Ms. Gordon, signatories of the letter were Stephen Katzman of S. Katzman Produce Inc.; Matthew D'Arrigo of D'Arrigo Bros. of New York Inc.; Cary Rubin of Rubin Bros. Inc.; Ira Nathel of Nathel & Nathel Inc.; Joe Palumbo of Top Banana; Jeffrey Haas of Henry Haas Inc.; Chris Armada of E. Armada Fruit & Produce; Richard Cochran of Robert T. Cochran; Cathy Hunt of D.M. Rothman; James Margiotta of J. Margiotta Co.; Mary Ellen Verrico of Morris Okun; Sal Vacca of A.J. Trucco; George Valdivia of Hunts Point Tropical; Denise Goodman of M&R Tomato Distributors; Ciro Porricelli of Jerry Porricelli Produce; Tim Motley of Food Barn; Leona Settani of Albee Tomato Co. Inc.; John Garcia of Kris-Pak Sales Corp.; and Angela Venuti of Ven-Co Produce Inc.
