Finding Labor Solutions

Finding Labor Solutions. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

I recently ran into Dan Fazio, executive director of the Washington Farm Labor Association at the annual Hort convention in Wenatchee and the subject of labor came up...or the lack thereof. Fazio says they have been working with

FAZIO: It’s all about the workforce or labor solutions to the agriculture labor shortage. As you know, Greg, we worked with the Governor and we are going to continue to work with the agencies about finding solutions to the labor shortage.

Fazio’s group held a meeting at the convention to discuss the shortages and to explore some alternate labor sources.

FAZIO: Prison labor, refugees, farm labor contractors, the H2A program - you know growers are using all of those things right now and they are a good source of labor and thanks to our sponsors, the Washington State Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Grants, of course the Washington State Horticultural Association , the Farm Bureau and the Wenatchee Valley Traffic Association but you know there’s more to it than that, Greg.

The Washington State Senate recently had a hearing on the labor shortage.

FAZIO: A really good work session - the work session was long on rhetoric and short on solutions. So the next step is, we’re urging the Governor to get together a task force; a group of people to talk about the possible solutions and we’re very optimistic that in fact is going to happen.

More tomorrow with Dan Fazio on the labor shortage issue.

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.