Potato, apple leaders to urge Senate to act on ag labor crisis

At 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, leaders from the potato and apple industries will host a press conference with agricultural industry partners and members of the U.S. House of Representatives to call on the U.S. Senate to take up legislation to solve the agricultural labor crisis.

The effort is part of the National Potato Council’s (NPC) 2020 Potato D.C. Fly-In, an annual advocacy event where approximately 125 industry members join together to stand up for potatoes on Capitol Hill.

NPC applauded the House for taking the first step in providing a solution to the ag labor crisis late last year through the passage of the bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act (H.R. 5038).

Bill sponsors and supporters including Reps. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), Dan Newhouse (R-Washington), Zoe Lofgren (D-California), Mario Díaz-Balart (R-Florida) and Doug LaMalfa (R-California) will join NPC to urge the Senate to begin that chamber’s process of drafting and enacting long-term labor solutions that support the health of American agriculture and its workers.

Participating will be current NPC President Britt Raybould of Idaho, Vice President of Legislative and Government Affair RJ Andrus of Idaho, U.S. Reps. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), Zoe Lofgren (D-California), Dan Newhouse (R-Washington), Doug LaMalfa (R-California) and Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Florida) and Jim Bair, president and CEO of the U.S. Apple Association, as well as NPC grower leaders.

The NPC will stream the event live on its Facebook page.