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Supplement to Adjusting to Higher Labor Costs in Selected U.S. Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Industries: Case Studies

Author

Listed:
  • Calvin, Linda
  • Martin, Philip
  • Simnitt, Skyler

Abstract

The report Adjusting to Higher Labor Costs in Selected U.S. Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Industries examines how U.S. producers of major labor-intensive fresh fruit and vegetables are addressing the rising costs of labor. Farm labor costs are increasing for several reasons, including fewer newly-arrived unauthorized workers, rising State minimum wages, and new requirements to pay overtime wages to some farm workers. Short-term options to meet the labor needs on farms include management changes, such as picking fields and orchards less often and introducing mechanical aids that increase worker productivity. Long-term options include the use of more labor-saving mechanization, additional H-2A guest workers, and reducing overall domestic production. Adjusting to Higher Labor Costs in Selected U.S. Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Industries provides an analysis of the ways in which producers are using different tools to address higher labor costs. This related report—Supplement to Adjusting to Higher Labor Costs in Selected U.S. Fruit and Vegetable Industries: Case Studies—analyzes adjustment options for four major fruit and three major vegetable and melon commodities.

Suggested Citation

  • Calvin, Linda & Martin, Philip & Simnitt, Skyler, "undated". "Supplement to Adjusting to Higher Labor Costs in Selected U.S. Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Industries: Case Studies," USDA Miscellaneous 323871, United States Department of Agriculture.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:usdami:323871
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.323871
    as

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    File URL: https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/323871/files/ap-103.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cook, Roberta L. & Calvin, Linda, 2005. "Greenhouse Tomatoes Change the Dynamics of the North American Fresh Tomato Industry," Economic Research Report 7244, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    2. Thompson, Gary D. & Wilson, Paul N., 1999. "Market Demands For Bagged, Refrigerated Salads," Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Western Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 24(2), pages 1-19, December.
    3. Tom Hertz & Steven Zahniser, 2013. "Is There A Farm Labor Shortage?," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 95(2), pages 476-481.
    4. Rachel Soper, 2020. "How wage structure and crop size negatively impact farmworker livelihoods in monocrop organic production: interviews with strawberry harvesters in California," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 37(2), pages 325-336, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yeh, D. Adeline & Kramer, Jaclyn & Calvin, Linda & Weber, Catharine, 2023. "The Changing Landscape of U.S. Strawberry and Blueberry Markets: Production, Trade, and Challenges from 2000 to 2020," Economic Information Bulletin 340564, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.

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