The potential absence of a legal workforce may be the greatest adverse impact the government shutdown has on Florida’s citrus industry, Florida Citrus Mutual (FCM) Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer Matt Joyner stated Oct. 31.
Joyner said reports indicate that the Florida industry for the first time in years is “seeing real movement in the right direction” as the result of new treatments, new technologies and a calm Florida hurricane season. “But now we face the challenge of not being able to harvest what we’ve so painstakingly grown because we can’t get the labor we need,” he stated.
FCM is working with the National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE), Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association and other organizations to find viable solutions to the labor problem, Joyner stated. He noted that FCM’s recent letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) expressed critical concern regarding the Department of Labor’s (DOL) suspension of H-2A labor certifications due to the shutdown.
“We encouraged the OMB to deem the processing of applications an ‘essential activity’ allowing DOL employees to return to work and resume certifications as quickly as possible,” Joyner stated. The vast majority of Florida citrus is harvested by H-2A workers.
“As of this writing, we are told that the processing of applications has resumed,” Joyner stated. “Nonetheless, there will be ongoing challenges to overcome the recent delays caused by the shutdown and ensure applications are processed in an expedited manner. We are working with NCAE to collect data on pending applications with imminent dates of need, highlighting the potential economic impact related to a failure to secure a needed workforce. This information will be presented to DOL and other agencies in an effort to secure critical relief.”
Joyner reported that Florida Congressman Mario Diaz Balart (FL-26) recently met with a dozen Florida farmers and growers to discuss their needs. He added that Balart “took decisive action to get the process moving once again.”
On Oct. 31, Balart commended President Donald Trump, Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer and OMB Director Russ Vought for leadership in ensuring the resumption of H-2A labor certification processing amid the government shutdown.
“Their decisive action has provided critical relief to Florida’s growers and the agriculture industry, allowing essential farm operations to continue uninterrupted,” Balart stated. “This effort safeguards the timely harvest of crops and helps prevent potential supply disruptions.”
Joyner also noted other concerns FCM has about impacts from the government shutdown. They include delays in the release of Supplemental Disaster Relief Program payments and finalization of the Block Grant program, the absence of U.S. Department of Agriculture fruit purchases as well as furloughs in research.
Sources: Florida Citrus Mutual and Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart
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