Coalition seeks transparency in AEWR calculation process

The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) and the North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission (NCSC) have assembled a five-state, 30-organization coalition to demand transparency on how the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) is calculated.

The AEWR, determined by the Department of Labor using data from the USDA’s Farm Labor Survey and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, determines minimum wages under the H-2A agricultural guest worker program.

The coalition, which includes the International Fresh Produce Association and the National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE), will file a Freedom of Information Act request with the USDA, according to a June 10 news release.

In the release, the coalition said that the USDA’s current AEWR methodology contributes to a self-compounding wage inflation cycle, undermining the economic viability of U.S. agriculture. This poses growing risks to national food security, increases American dependence on imported food, and threatens the stability of rural communities across the country, according to the coalition.

“The current trajectory of AEWR increases is simply unsustainable for specialty crop growers in Georgia and across the Southeast,” Chris Butts, GFVGA executive vice president, said in the release. “Without immediate legislative reform and greater transparency in how these wage rates are set, we risk losing farms, jobs and our ability to feed the nation. We must act now to ensure a fair, data-driven wage process that protects both our farmworkers and the future of U.S. agriculture.”

Earlier this month, a federal district judge set a date to hear oral arguments in an ongoing court case challenging the legality of AEWR. Oral arguments on the NCAE’s motion for a summary judgment on the AEWR rule are scheduled for July 1 in a Tampa, Florida federal district court.

According to the coalition news release, higher prices are causing American consumers to eat less fruits and vegetables.

“The sharp increase in AEWR rates is putting North Carolina sweet potato farms — and the entire state’s agricultural economy — at risk,” said Michelle Grainger, NCSC executive director. “Sweet potatoes are a labor-intensive crop, and due to skin sensitivity, sweet potatoes must be hand-harvested. As labor costs surge beyond inflation, many growers are facing reduced access to essential workers, threatening a substantial reduction in acres produced, timely harvests and ultimately leading to significant revenue losses.

“If left unaddressed, this wage pressure could push more farms out of business, weaken our rural communities and undermine the sustainability of North Carolina’s vital produce sector while also further distancing consumers from the producers and their healthy crops that aid in an affordable and nutritionally balanced diet.”

Coalition organizations are engaging stakeholders, the media and state congressional delegations and encouraging those affected by AEWR rates to reach out to local and state representatives, according to the release.

The 30 coalition organizations are:

• Alabama Farmers Federation
• Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association
• Alabama Nursery and Landscape Association
• Blue Ridge Apple Growers Association
• Georgia Agribusiness Council
• Georgia Berry Exchange
• Georgia Farm Bureau
• Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association
• Georgia Green Industry Association
• Georgia Peach Council
• Georgia Pecan Growers Association
• Georgia Watermelon Association
• International Fresh Produce Association
• National Council of Agricultural Employers
• North Carolina Apple Growers Association
• North Carolina Chamber
• North Carolina Christmas Tree Association
• North Carolina Farm Bureau
• North Carolina Growers Association
• North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association
• North Carolina Strawberry Association
• North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission
• North Carolina Tomato Growers Association
• North Carolina Vegetable Growers Association
• North Carolina Watermelon Association
• Michigan Asparagus Association
• South Carolina Farm Bureau
• South Carolina Peach Council
• South Carolina Small Fruit Growers Association
• Tobacco Growers Association of North Carolina