Farm groups join immigration coalition
February 03, 2014 | 02:59 PM
The Agriculture Workforce Coalition has joined the Partnership for a New American Economy to push for immigration reform.
The campaign will stress the agriculture sector’s critical need for immigration reform with activities online and on the ground in Washington and in key districts, the American Farm Bureau Federation said in a news release today.
Developed after the House Republican leadership released its principles of immigration reform last week, the campaign will begin with a Capitol Hill briefing on Wednesday at which congressional staff will hear from farmers and ranchers about the need for immigration reform.
The campaign will also release new research on labor shortages and throughout the month, farmers and ranchers tell their stories through farm tours, social and traditional media, videos, and community events for members of Congress in their districts. The campaign will be called #IFARMIMMIGRATION.
“This campaign will highlight how many farmers rely on an immigrant labor force and without reform, growers will begin to plant less labor intensive crops or go off shore,” Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman said. “Simply put, either we import our labor or we import our food.”
Coalition spokesman Chuck Conner, the president and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, said, “This partnership is especially timely, with the House Republican caucus recently releasing their principles on immigration reform and recognizing in them the labor needs of agriculture.”
“With the recent release of Republican immigration standards and the highlighting of agriculture’s unique need for action, it is clear that the time for Congress to reform our broke immigration system has arrived,” added Tom Nassif, the president and CEO of Western Growers. “Working together with other industries, the faith community, and other reform minded leaders is critical to achieving our shared goals.”
United Fresh Produce Association President and CEO Tom Stenzel said, “Our fresh fruit and vegetable members are facing labor shortages now and literally cannot afford to wait any longer. We look forward to working with Congress to carry immigration reform over the finish line as soon as possible.”
The founding members of the AWC are:
The Partnership for a New American Economy is composed of more than 500 Republican, Democratic and independent mayors and business leaders who support immigration reforms that will help create jobs.
The partnership’s members include “mayors of more than 35 million people nationwide and business leaders of companies that generate more than $1.5 trillion and employ more than 4 million people across all sectors of the economy, from agriculture to aerospace, hospitality to high tech and media to manufacturing,” Farm Bureau said in the news release.
The campaign will stress the agriculture sector’s critical need for immigration reform with activities online and on the ground in Washington and in key districts, the American Farm Bureau Federation said in a news release today.
Developed after the House Republican leadership released its principles of immigration reform last week, the campaign will begin with a Capitol Hill briefing on Wednesday at which congressional staff will hear from farmers and ranchers about the need for immigration reform.
The campaign will also release new research on labor shortages and throughout the month, farmers and ranchers tell their stories through farm tours, social and traditional media, videos, and community events for members of Congress in their districts. The campaign will be called #IFARMIMMIGRATION.
“This campaign will highlight how many farmers rely on an immigrant labor force and without reform, growers will begin to plant less labor intensive crops or go off shore,” Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman said. “Simply put, either we import our labor or we import our food.”
Coalition spokesman Chuck Conner, the president and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, said, “This partnership is especially timely, with the House Republican caucus recently releasing their principles on immigration reform and recognizing in them the labor needs of agriculture.”
“With the recent release of Republican immigration standards and the highlighting of agriculture’s unique need for action, it is clear that the time for Congress to reform our broke immigration system has arrived,” added Tom Nassif, the president and CEO of Western Growers. “Working together with other industries, the faith community, and other reform minded leaders is critical to achieving our shared goals.”
United Fresh Produce Association President and CEO Tom Stenzel said, “Our fresh fruit and vegetable members are facing labor shortages now and literally cannot afford to wait any longer. We look forward to working with Congress to carry immigration reform over the finish line as soon as possible.”
The founding members of the AWC are:
- American Farm Bureau Federation
- American Nursery & Landscape Association
- Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association
- National Council of Agricultural Employers
- National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
- National Milk Producers Federation
- USA Farmers
- U.S. Apple Association
- United Fresh Produce Association
- Western Growers Association
- Western United Dairymen
The Partnership for a New American Economy is composed of more than 500 Republican, Democratic and independent mayors and business leaders who support immigration reforms that will help create jobs.
The partnership’s members include “mayors of more than 35 million people nationwide and business leaders of companies that generate more than $1.5 trillion and employ more than 4 million people across all sectors of the economy, from agriculture to aerospace, hospitality to high tech and media to manufacturing,” Farm Bureau said in the news release.
