Changes for the Fruit Industry. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report.
The year is only 2 months old and already the tree fruit industry has had some challenges. Recently WSU's research dollars were thought to be in jeopardy but according to Bruce Grim, Director of the Washington State Horticulture Association that issue has resolved itself.
GRIM: Part of the issue - there was some confusion there and it's understandable confusion but part of the issue there was staff was asked as to whether or not these funds were covered by the "quote" maintenance of effort that was required for other stimulus funds and when it was determined that the research funds were outside of that, it simply meant they were in the pool of items that could be utilized to be cut to balance the budget. Not that they were necessarily going to do that.
That of course would have been a devastating blow to both WSU and agriculture in general but Grim says at this point that deal is off the table. But another issue that is a hotbed of controversy is the H2A changes.
GRIM: Well obviously changes in this administration are not as friendly to agricultural users as the H2A provisions that the Bush Administration had come out with so we see that's going to have somewhat of a chilling and more difficult and more costly impact on growers to get those kinds of workers.
Employers will also now have to bear the burden of proof that they have looked for U.S. workers first.
GRIM: Most of us who have been around the business for a number of years – few to almost none Caucasian Americans that are out there looking for these kinds of jobs. It's cold in the winter time, it's snowy, it's not the most comfortable working conditions, it's hot in the summertime and not everyone wants those jobs, clearly. We have a workforce that does want those jobs.
That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.
