Labor Issues Affecting Harvest

California Faces Labor Issues

By Jessica Theisman, Associate Editor

California Ag Today recently had the chance to interview Alex Ott, Executive Director of the California Apple Commission, California Blueberry Commission, and the California Olive Committee. He said the apple harvest went well, but there are labor issues in California that will be affecting the industry in the future.

Alex Ott

There is a big concern regarding the ongoing labor issues. These issues don’t just affect apples and blueberries, but other commodities as well. The increased rules and regulations in California are one component to the decrease in labor.

“You have all of the new rules, whether it be mandatory increase in wages, that obviously inflate a lot of the other wages that are currently already in existence,” Ott said.

Another cause is that they have done away with the ag exemption overtime. With all of the stress following that change, the stress is put on the labor and in this type of situation, the labor decreases.

“I think it is a combination of a lot more increased enforcement of what is going on down at the border, and as a result, you see a lot of folks that just are not available to work,” Ott explained. “Many workers will decide to just not go to work. Not only is the stress on the labor, but the growers as well. If the grower does not increase what he is bringing in, it makes it very difficult to pay the increased costs.”

California Ag Today2017-10-26T14:03:50-07:00October 26th, 2017|

California Represented at Fresh Summit In New Orleans

PMA Fresh Summit Happening Now, Oct. 19-21

By Patrick Cavanaugh, Farm News Director

The Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit brings together produce and floral industry leaders, retail buyers, food safety experts and importers and exporters from around the globe. A thousand exhibitors representing over 60 countries are at the Fresh Summit in New Orleans this week.

Alex Ott

“It’s a great opportunity to continue to meet with consumers and buyers and get the message out about the availability of California produce,” said Alex Ott, executive director of the California Apple Commission, California Blueberry Commission and the California Olive Committee told us about the Summit.

The Buy California Program will be a big part of the Fresh Summit this year, and Ott noted that it has been very positive for California apples and blueberries and olives.

“Getting the message out that California isn’t just Hollywood, but a big agricultural state as well, and we are there representing apples, blueberries and olives.

Regarding the 2017 blueberry crop, Ott noted that harvest went well and prices were good, however the price for processed blueberries were down this year.

“We were running about 10 days behind this year, but overall it was a very comparable year to last year as well. Not all the final numbers are in yet, but the fresh market was very, very good. Processed was not good,” Ott said.

“There was a lot of fruit out there and the processed prices were down significantly. And that had a huge impact on how many blueberries actually went to processing,” he said.

“The other unfortunate incident at the beginning of the year, is a lot of our friends in Georgia and some of the other southeast States, experienced a freeze, which impacted the crop, but on the other hand, was … good movement for California fresh blueberries,” Ott said.

California Ag Today2017-10-20T15:43:22-07:00October 20th, 2017|

CA Grown Campaign Builds Awareness

CA Grown Campaign Builds Awareness of the State’s Agricultural Bounty

By Kyle Buchoff, Assistant Editor

Denise Junqueiro, California Olive Committee director of programs and services and serves and CA Grown Campaign vice-chair, reported California Grown is really about building awareness of California-grown products. One of five Mediterranean climates in the world, California is a rare place where specialty crops that thrive in short, wet winters separated by a sunny and dry spring, summer, and fall, can be grown.

“We know people are curious,” said Junqueiro. “We know people want to know where their food comes from. We have an abundance of crops in our state, and we believe we grow these better than everyone else in the world. So we are trying to increase awareness—not only about our products—but about the farmers who grow them, because our farmers really care. Our efforts are about shining a light on all the bountiful fruits, vegetables and nuts we grow in California,” she noted.

_____________

California Grown, according to their website, gives farmers the platform to share their farm stories and to help consumers understand where their food comes from. Farmers present their food safety measures, choices in crop varieties, sustainable and creative packaging solutions to make serving dinner faster and more convenient, strong ties to the land and to their neighbors, pride in homegrown products and in their work; and support for the economy.

California Grown is supported by the state and federal governments, hundreds of growers, and all Californians. The group also collaborates with about 20 member partners in California agriculture to remind everyone to seek out and purchase agricultural products grown and produced in California.

_____________________________