Feb 28, 2025

Michigan H-2A labor wage rates drive coalition response

Michigan’s fruit and vegetable industry leaders are working to educate the public and influence federal lawmakers about the burden of rising Michigan H-2A labor wage rates.

The Protect Our Produce Coalition, a targeted state-led public relations campaign, launched to highlight the impact of escalating government-mandated Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWR). Jamie Clover Adams, executive director of the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board, is spearheading the effort.

“The objective of the campaign is to drive awareness of how existing federal policies are threatening domestic production of specialty crops and consideration of how the consequences of these policies create winners — foreign producers — and losers — seasonal workers, American farmers and food consumers,” Clover Adams said.

Coalition builds momentum in Michigan

Clover Adams explained that the campaign complements national efforts. “Our proximity to growers makes us uniquely positioned to effectively educate policymakers on the immediate and long-term impacts their action/inaction have on our growers and underscore the urgent need for action.”

Founding coalition members include:

• Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board
• Michigan Blueberry Commission
• Michigan State Horticultural Society
• Michigan Tree Fruit Commission
• Michigan Vegetable Council
• Potato Growers of Michigan
• Cherry Marketing Institute
• Michigan Agribusiness Association
• Michigan Farm Bureau

Ultimately, the coalition plans to work with grower groups in other states.

Rising wage rates alarm asparagus growers

Grower leaders in Michigan’s asparagus industry became galvanized after seeing an increase of more than $3 per hour in H-2A labor rates between 2022 and 2023. They felt policymakers were ignoring the negative impact of these increases.

“Michigan asparagus growers who also grow a wide variety of vegetables and fruits see Michigan’s asparagus industry as the canary in the coal mine when it comes to the negative impact of escalating H-2A labor rates on specialty crop agriculture,” Clover Adams said.

Escalating costs threaten domestic production

Clover Adams emphasized that escalating government-mandated wages are threatening the viability of Michigan growers and their family businesses. The higher costs are making U.S. growers uncompetitive in the marketplace.

Between 2012 and 2022, Michigan lost 15,530 acres of fruit and vegetables. That’s a 6% decline during the same period that federally mandated wage rates increased 42.6%.

Michigan growers face shrinking margins

In 2023, H-2A workers harvesting asparagus made an average of $0.21 per pound. This figure does not include housing, transportation, or farm labor contractor costs, all paid by growers. After all expenses, the median grower return averaged just $0.16 per pound, Clover Adams said.

A small Michigan apple grower lost an average of $0.44 per pound in 2023. Meanwhile workers received wages, housing, and benefits worth $0.14 per pound.

The Michigan asparagus industry invested $100,000 into the Protect Our Produce Coalition’s educational campaign to push for change in Michigan H-2A labor wage rates.