Fresh Produce Workforce

Member Action Alert!

IFPA champions policies aimed at long-term certainty in the labor market by defending regulatory gains, modernizing agricultural and food sector worker programs, and ensuring ethical labor standards across the industry.

For four decades, Congress has failed to address the growing labor crisis in agriculture. As a result, our food supply chain increasingly depends on foreign workers and imported food—while American producers struggle to stay in business. The H-2A program, once a vital tool to meet labor needs, has become unsustainable, with rising costs threatening the very survival of our farms.

Recent changes to H-2A wage methodology aim to make the program more affordable for growers, but continued improvement to expand access and streamline use is desperately needed. Congressional reforms to visa programs must be passed to protect the U.S. fresh produce and floral workforce in the long-term.

We need your voice!

Immigration Enforcement Memo

As the Administration intensifies its enforcement of U.S. immigration laws, IFPA wants to provide you with essential information about your rights and responsibilities as both employers and individuals. While this document has been prepared with input from legal counsel, it does not constitute legal advice. For guidance on specific situations, we encourage you to consult your attorney.

If you have any questions about this material or immigration issues more broadly, please contact:

Samantha Ayoub

Director, Workforce and Business Policy
Government Relations

+1( 202)303-3421 Email Samantha Ayoub

IFPA remains committed to advocating for the fair treatment of our industry and pushing for reforms to workforce and immigration programs that are critical to the future of the fresh produce and floral sectors.

The JPH Law Firm issued a memo on Jan. 29, 2025, outlining key best practices for employers in response to immigration enforcement actions. The summary below highlights essential guidance from JPH, helping IFPA members navigate enforcement actions while maintaining compliance and safeguarding workers' rights.

See the Key Points for IFPA Members

Read the JPH Law Firm Memo

Farm Labor Stats

Nearly 50% of U.S. agriculture labor lacks legal work authorization

H-2A represents only about 15% of the hired agriculture labor force

2.5M people work in ag, plus 22+M more in the supply chain

Farm labor shortages mean higher food prices and $3 billion in missed GDP growth

Farm Worker Legislation Overview

For years, the fresh produce industry and our agriculture sector partners have made an overwhelming case for legislation to reform our broken immigration system and help build a legal and reliable workforce, especially now that the U.S. imports more food than it exports.

Aerial closeup view of man sorting tomatoes on flatbed trailer at sunrise.

Labor challenges exist elsewhere in the supply chain, too, with the need for additional truck drivers, railroad workers, and more to avert another crisis, such as 2024 port worker union strikes.

Legislation

Legislative action is at the heart of our efforts to change policies to improve the conditions impacting our supply chain. See how IFPA is taking on our workforce challenges:

Congressional Review Act Resolution H.J. Res 21: IFPA SUPPORTS H.J. Res. 21 which would utilize Congressional authority to repeal the Biden-era DHS Regulation titled "Modernizing H-2 Program Requirements, Oversight, and Worker Protections.
FARM Stability Act S. 4249: IFPA, through the Ag Workforce Coalition, Supports S. 4249, which would codify DOL's AEWR methodology from October 2, 2025, if an adverse effect on domestic workers is shown.

Coalitions

As part of our immigration advocacy efforts, IFPA works with various coalitions to advance our immigration priorities. Learn more by visiting the coalition websites:

Federal Websites

There are many federal agencies involved in the employment of foreign workers in the fresh produce and floral industry. This is particularly true for users of the H-2A and H-2B visa programs where multiple agencies work together to manage the programs. Learn more about relevant agencies that play a role in the development, implementation and oversight of regulations impacting our members: