Farmers fear coronavirus will curb migrant workforce, lead to produce shortages – By Jessie Higgins (UPI) / March 20 2020
EVANSVILLE, Ind., March 20 (UPI) — Fresh fruits and vegetables could be in short supply this year because the coronavirus pandemic is making it more difficult for farmers to bring in migrant workers from other countries.
As of Thursday, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services had suspended all in-person interviews until further notice to protect its staff from the rapidly spreading disease.
The decision means no new migrant workers can obtain visas. With spring planting season about to begin in many states, farmers fear they won’t have enough labor to plant and later harvest their crops.
“This is a problem,” said Jason Resnick, the vice president and general counsel of Western Growers, an association that represents family farmers in Arizona, California, Colorado and New Mexico.
“There will be less fresh produce on store shelves because of this — there is no doubt about it,” Resnick said. “Farmers are not going to be able to produce all of their crops for lack of labor.”
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