U.S. fruit and vegetable growers are urging the Trump administration to resume processing H-2A farmworker visas after the ongoing federal government shutdown halted application certifications. The H-2A program allows agricultural employers to bring in seasonal workers from abroad, supporting labor-intensive specialty crop sectors.
During the shutdown, the Department of Labor suspended acceptance and processing of H-2A job orders and labor certifications. The pause comes at a time when the food and agriculture industry is already contending with workforce shortages linked to tighter immigration enforcement.
The Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA) warned that delays in visa processing "imminently threaten agricultural production." In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and other administration officials, the group said the disruption could lead to crop losses for Florida growers if applications remain stalled.
Fruit and vegetable production requires substantial labor, particularly during harvest, when crops must often be handpicked due to perishability. Florida relies heavily on the H-2A program, with approximately 50,000 certified positions each year. According to the FFVA, if visa processing does not resume soon, as much as 40% of the state's H-2A workforce may not arrive in time for harvest.
The group noted that if the shutdown continues through November, many of these workers may not reach farms until February, halfway through the main harvest season for several crops, including oranges. The FFVA requested that H-2A visa processing be classified as an essential activity to allow certifications to continue despite the shutdown, ensuring timely access to seasonal labor for growers across the country.
Source: Civil Eats
