WASHINGTON, DC - The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) puts forth ongoing public policy efforts to find workable and practical solutions to the farm labor crisis. Offering his expertise, IFPA Director of U.S. Government Relations John Hollay was recently named to a multi-stakeholder and bi-national task force convened by the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars that aims to develop evidence-based policy recommendations to improve labor recruitment and employment conditions for farm workers.

“The opportunity to serve on this Task Force and ensure that IFPA member voices are represented has been invaluable,” said Hollay. “Ensuring that we have the workforce that is ready to meet the challenge of feeding a growing world is integral to the health of our planet and its people, and the success of our industry. I am honored to represent IFPA and its members on this task force to ensure that its recommendations align with how the fresh produce operates.”

This work is part of an overarching project titled “Agriculture in North America–From Knowledge to Action” that will assess agricultural labor conditions in Mexico and the United States. According to a press release, a final task force report is expected in early 2025. As part of the task force’s work, it recently toured production facilities in Mexico and met with legislative and regulatory officials to explore solutions to the farmworker labor challenge.

“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 USDA expects the U.S. to import more food than it exports starting this year,” Hollay added.

IFPA has called on its members to contact Congress to enlist bipartisan consensus for the Supporting Farm Operations Act (HR 7046), which freezes AEWR increases for two years, giving immediate relief and certainty for the industry to perform while Congress works on broader reforms. In addition, IFPA has provided comments to both the Department of Labor and the Department of Homeland Security, wherein the organization reinforced its commitment to building a workable H-2A program that is fair to employers and employees alike.

We applaud Hollay and IFPA for their continued efforts in advancing labor reform.