Oct 2, 2018Debut Colorado labor conference opens registration
Registration is now open for the Colorado Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association (CFVGA) first-ever Produce Labor Conference, to be held Dec. 5 at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds, Aurora, Colorado. The conference agenda is designed to address the needs and frame solutions for all sizes and types of produce farms. It will take an in-depth look at the current farm labor conditions, review current policies and explore a variety of technology and other solutions to help alleviate the labor shortage.
“Finding and retaining qualified workers is one of the most important issues facing Colorado produce growers and is one of the main reasons our farm stopped growing sweet corn,” said CFVGA President Robert Sakata, Sakata Farms, Brighton Colo. “As we planned this conference we tried to come up with solutions not only for recruitment but the critical need of housing and reducing the size of the seasonal workforce needed.”
The schedule, lodging and other information for the full day conference is available at: https://coloradoproduce.org/labor-conference/ Anyone is welcome to attend. Questions can be addressed to CFVGA at 303.594.3827 or [email protected] Register at: https://cfvga-labor.eventbrite.com
CFVGA’s Produce Labor Conference is scheduled the day following MAFO’s Colorado Agriculture and Farm Labor Summit, Dec. 3-4, in Colorado Springs and includes a report from the summit’s leadership.
“It is our desire to bring together two sectors that have not traditionally worked together to look for solutions that benefit both laborers and farmers,” said CFVGA Founding Board Member Adrian Card.
CFVGA continues to recruit for two categories of agricultural labor innovation proposals to present at the conference. The first category of proposals sought is for existing marketplace agricultural technology solutions to labor challenges (especially labor shortages) for produce fields and packing houses. The second category of proposals sought is for individuals and companies with innovative ideas to increase labor efficiency, save money on labor, attract or retain workers and/or reduce the amount of human labor used in produce operations.
Proposals for both programs are due Oct. 15 and can be emailed to [email protected]. Proposals should be prepared in accordance with the Request for Proposal guidelines, which can be found at https://coloradoproduce.org/labor/ For more information, email CFVGA or call 303.594.3827.
The CFVGA is comprised of approximately 250 members, including growers of all sizes and types of production throughout the state, as well as representatives of allied industries. The Colorado fruit and vegetable growing sector contributes nearly $485 million to Colorado in production and sales and is multiplied as it goes through the distribution chain. Over 90,000 Colorado acres are in fruit and vegetable production.
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