United Fresh Lauds Senate Immigration Principles

The United Fresh Produce Association has applauded the framework for comprehensive immigration reform put forward by a bipartisan group of eight senators. The Agriculture Workforce Coalition (AWC), of which United is a founding member, has made an impact on the discussion as a broad, unifying agriculture coalition.

“This bipartisan initiative addresses a top priority and longstanding challenge for fresh produce industry employers,” said Tom Stenzel, United Fresh president & CEO. “We’re encouraged these senators have taken the lead and we look forward to further developing these principals into effective legislation.”

United Fresh and the AWC remain committed to the goal of ensuring that agricultural employers have access to a stable and skilled workforce, and that any eventual legislation addresses the needs of both current on-farm employees in need of an adjustment in immigration status and the future workforce requirements of employers.

The AWC maintains that American agriculture would not be possible without the contributions of more than 1.5 million hired workers each year – a position that reflects a critical step toward reform that preserves the competitiveness and productivity of the agriculture industry.

Additional information on the AWC can be found online.

Washington, D.C.-based United Fresh serves companies at the forefront of the global fresh and fresh-cut produce industry, including growers, shippers, fresh-cut processors, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, foodservice operators, industry suppliers and allied associations.