Feb 28, 2025

Specialty crop industry braces for policy shifts

As the second Donald Trump presidential administration begins governing, the agriculture community is watching to see how his policies could affect the specialty crop industry.

Vegetable Growers News asked industry representatives to consider what the future might hold for the specialty crop sector as the new administration’s policies take effect. The following are the comments provided by those who responded.

What do you expect 2025 to bring?

Jason Resnik, senior vice president and general counsel, Western Growers: In 2025, we anticipate continued challenges related to labor availability and costs, particularly if H-2A reform and adverse effect wage rate (AEWR) stabilization are not addressed. Additionally, we hope to avoid indiscriminate immigration enforcement sweeps that result in the deportation of essential workers in farming. Such indiscriminate actions would be economically counterproductive, harming food production, exacerbating labor shortages and contributing to food inflation.

Rebeckah Adcock, vice president, U.S. government relations, International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA):
IFPA is fully committed to working with the incoming president and administration. Our mission remains steadfast: fostering the prosperity of our members by increasing access to and consumption of fresh fruits, vegetables and floral products — a critical foundation for a healthier, more resilient future for all Americans.

We are encouraged by efforts to reform regulations that place labor wage escalation and resolving critical water resource shortages will empower U.S. producers to compete effectively in both domestic and international markets.

IFPA invites the administration to collaborate closely with the agricultural community to develop policies that balance trade considerations with regulatory relief. Together, we can create a thriving environment for producers, ensure food security and make fresh, healthy foods accessible to consumers worldwide.

Matthew Dillon, co-CEO, Organic Trade Association: We look forward to continuing to work with the USDA National Organic Program on regulatory updates and enforcement to ensure organic integrity. We have reason to believe that this administration and its new political appointees will understand that NOP enforcement is good for American farmers and businesses.

What is your biggest concern of the new presidency for growers of fruit and vegetables?

Resnick: Western Growers will continue to advocate for sensible immigration enforcement policies that prioritize public safety while recognizing the vital role agricultural workers play in ensuring a stable and affordable domestic food supply. On a more optimistic note, we remain hopeful for progress in advancing meaningful agricultural labor reform through legislative or regulatory initiatives, alongside increased investment in automation and technology to help mitigate rising labor costs.

How will the immigration/ labor issue be dealt with for growers of fruit and vegetables?

Adcock: The viability of American growers relies on access to an affordable and stable workforce. However, the produce sector continues to grapple with severe labor shortages and escalating costs that often exceed crop values. The H-2A program remains a critical resource for growers, yet decades of inaction have rendered it cumbersome and unreliable. IFPA advocates for meaningful labor reform that enables growers to meet consumer demand while protecting the rights and well being of temporary foreign workers.

Recent court cases halted enforcement of a rule amending H-2A visa program regulations. The rulings offer a vital reprieve to farmers nationwide who rely on the program for seasonal labor. In partnership with co-plaintiffs, IFPA argued that the regulation exceeded the Department of Labor’s statutory authority, imposed unconstitutional demands on agricultural employers and created significant disruptions across the farming industry.

IFPA remains committed to securing a final decision that declares the rule and its requirements unenforceable. The H-2A visa program is a critical source of labor for the fresh produce and floral industries, enabling employers facing domestic labor shortages to hire foreign workers for temporary or seasonal agricultural tasks such as planting, cultivating and harvesting.

Over the years, H-2A use has become more widespread, turning the program into an essential solution for meeting producers’ labor needs and providing a legal and structured framework for workers to perform specific jobs within defined timeframes.

However, the program is hindered by excessive and cumbersome requirements that limit its effectiveness. That is why IFPA will push to rollback H-2A regulations put in place by the Biden Administration and work with Congress and the Trump administration to modernize this important tool for American farmers to provide the stability and predictability needed to feed the world.

The fresh produce and floral supply chain urgently needs reliable labor in the fields and orchards, but workforce challenges extend across the entire supply chain. IFPA remains committed to advocating for long-term workforce stability by urging Congress and regulators to take decisive action, as seen in resolving labor disputes in ports, railroads and trucking.

Dillon: We are seeing signs that President Trump will be aggressive with immigration. Given that 40% to 50% of agricultural labor is undocumented and that organic is even more labor-dependent than conventional specialty crops, this will have a significant impact. Labor costs will increase and farmers may reduce their cultivated acres, leading to higher prices for consumers of organic produce.

What do you expect to see happen with the farm bill with the new presidency and Congress?

Dillon: The farm bill always requires bipartisanship to get enough votes. Given the election and margins in the House and Senate still being tight, we expect compromise to get it done. Budgets were looking tight in the 2023 and 2024 discussions for this bill, so it will be challenging to get new programs funded.

We will continue to show how public sector investments in organic bring value for rural economies, farmers and consumers. And we will point out that organic are voluntary regulations that these stakeholders choose to opt into as opposed to compulsory environmental regulations.

Adcock: IFPA continues to call for prompt action from Congress and strong support from the executive branch to enact a comprehensive and inclusive Farm Bill. For the fresh produce industry, this legislation provides vital resources to growers and producers, ensuring the stability of our nation’s food supply. IFPA, as a co-chair of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance alongside more than 200 organizations, advocates for policies that strengthen specialty crop agriculture.

Even modest investments in specialty crop programs can be transformative for growers often overlooked in past farm bills. These investments would enhance growers’ safety net, boost research funding and provide tools to access new international markets. Importantly, addressing the needs of fruit and vegetable growers is crucial to fostering a healthier America.

With the president threatening to place tariffs on imported goods, how would ag exports, future trade agreements and international relations involving agriculture fare?

Dillon: If tariffs are imposed, organic food and agriculture would face similar challenges as conventional sectors. Organic imports largely mirror conventional imports, including commodities such as coffee, olive oil, chocolate, sugar and specialty crops like bananas and avocados — most of which are not produced domestically in sufficient quantities year-round.

There are two key areas where the organic market may fare better than conventional markets. The U.S. organic market is less reliant on exports than its conventional counterparts. The U.S. is the world’s largest organic consumption market and imports more organic products than it exports. U.S. organic exports total approximately $3.2 billion out of a $69.7 billion market — just 5% of total value. By contrast, conventional producers are more export-dependent and vulnerable to retaliatory tariffs from trade partners.

—  Doug Ohlemeier, Assistant Editor