The Harvest Won’t Wait – Why Are We?
By Judith Jackson, Program Director, Center for Latino Leadership

As fall approaches, farmers across Washington are preparing for a season that won’t slow down. From apples and hops to wine grapes and pears, the crops are coming, whether we’re ready or not. But this year, just like last year and the year before, there’s one question still looming: Who will help bring in the harvest?

Labor shortages in agriculture are nothing new, but they’re getting worse. And so far, Congress continues to sidestep the one issue that could bring real stability to our food system: workforce reform.

The Farm Workforce Modernization Act, recently reintroduced in Congress, proposes a practical, lawful process for experienced farmworkers to gain temporary legal status and, eventually, permanent residency. The proposal isn't sweeping reform or blanket amnesty. It’s a targeted solution that recognizes the reality on the ground, many of these workers have been part of our communities and economy for years.

At the same time, the Department of Labor has suspended enforcement of a 2024 rule designed to protect temporary agricultural workers. Farms may benefit from less red tape, but that shouldn't come at the cost of common sense protections for the people doing much of the manual work. Many farmworkers work long hours in physically demanding conditions and if we value the fruits of their labor, we should also value their safety and fair treatment.

Meanwhile, recent immigration raids in California have sent a different kind of message. Raids might make headlines, but they leave farms short-staffed overnight, disrupt entire harvest schedules, and push food prices higher for all of us. When enforcement efforts destabilize the workforce without offering legitimate alternatives, everyone loses–particularly the individual farmers trying to stay afloat and the families depending on their paychecks.

There’s also growing interest in reforming the H‑2A visa system, a program which allows foreign nationals to work temporarily in U.S. agriculture. The current process for the program is by many standards complex, costly, and difficult for growers, especially smaller operations, to navigate. If Congress is serious about supporting American agriculture, then simplifying the H-2A program should be a top priority, one that balances necessary accountability with real-world practicality.

Washington’s agricultural future depends on more than weather forecasts and market prices, it depends on people, and on policy. With an average of two farms closing daily in our state, Washington farmers can’t keep the farm running on hope and last-minute fixes. Neither can the workers they rely on.

Citations:

1. Farm Workforce Modernization Act (H.R. 3227) – https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/3227

2. DOL enforcement suspension coverage – Washington State Standard (Aug 2025) – https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/08/08/farmworkers-union-fights-to-curb-migrant-h-2a-visa-expansion-in-whatcom-skagit/

3. AP News – Immigration raids and food supply disruptions (June 2025) – https://apnews.com/article/1301639766f55c8d4e8e15ff2fd45687