Around the world, governments are imposing travel limits in an effort to curb the spread of Corona. The unintended consequence is a pressure on migrant labor, which is a cornerstone of food production. The Americans prepared produce crops farmers are warning of a devastating impact on fruit and vegetables at the US Embassy in Mexico announced interviews stop visa for seasonal agricultural workers. Slaughterhouses may also face labor shortages. In Australia, the producers say the country is the lack of some fruits and vegetables curbs due to travel may face, traditional use with overseas workers in the nation for a third of the seats for seasonal agricultural work. Kiwifruit pickers are scarce in New Zealand. And threaten Canada, the meat processing travel limits to fill temporary foreign workers dependent chronic labor shortages. “There will be someone to harvest crops,” said Robert Guenther, senior vice president of public policy for the United Fresh Produce Association, which represents US farmers, traders, wholesalers and retailers. “It ‘will be devastating for producers and, ultimately, for the supply chain and consumers. The food is not” vulnerable supply chains expectations for a job crisis show how interconnected the global agriculture. become, and put the production tribes and areas of vulnerability for the supply chain. In many large nations food production, the industry relies heavily on filling of migrants and guest workers jobs that prevent citizens of the middle class. Think of the work back-breaking tomato wallets, hazardous conditions in slaughterhouses and what many consider the inedible by feeding operations around livestock. The timing of the disorders in some way could not be worse. In the northern hemisphere, farmers are updating growing seasons for its lace spring and summer. Breeders also to sell more animals for slaughter this time of year tends. While large grain and oilseed operations in the United States are not very dependent on seasonal workers, many fruits and vegetables are the operators. Leafy vegetables, berries and cucumbers are affected first by the loss of seasonal workers likely to be, Guenther said. would be fruit trees such as peaches, plums, nectarines and citrus interested item in May and June, he said. The US embassy in Mexico posted a message on its Web site it was necessary to indefinitely stop visa interviews, to come to the notice of process applications in the United States, even for seasonal agricultural workers under the visa program H-2A. The US Department of Agriculture “directly to the Department of State operates and works diligently minimal disruption H2A visa applications in these uncertain times to ensure” the agency said in a response Posted. “This government will do everything to get the continuity of this crucial upright program.” Possible waivers US Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has said that representatives of the farm in a conference call Tuesday that the Department of State for visa applications return process agricultural workers who qualify for a waiver of interview is said Dave Puglia, President Western growers Association, representing 2,500 companies in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. The USDA did not respond immediately to confirm the call to query his account. The Department of State of the United States did not respond to requests for comment about the joke of interview arrest for visa. Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, the largest general organization of the nation, said the restrictions would still hamper the harvest. “Under the new restrictions, American farmers have no access are needed on all the skilled immigrant workers in the planting season at a critical time,” said Duvall. “The threat of betting on American tables our food capacity.” In Canada may maintain its visa restrictions for people looking for work was in line at the nation protein crops from places like Central America or the Philippines, said Chris White, president of the Ottawa-based Canadian Meat Council. Workers are “critical” for the nation’s meat production. In Australia, on Monday, the government imposed two weeks of self-isolation time for everyone in the country is coming. This limits the access of the agricultural sector to a central source of seasonal labor. The small coastal town of Bowen in north Queensland, now known prepares for its collection of winter vegetables and is an example of an area that could be affected, said Richard Shannon, politics and responsible advocacy at Growcom horticulture industry group country. “In winter, 90% of our tomatoes and peppers provide so that small country is growing exponentially during the harvest season, and relies heavily on people coming from interstate and overseas,” said Shannon. -With the help of Joe Richter, Nick Wadhams and Jen Skerritt. Picture copyright by Sandy Huffaker AFP / Getty Images
You can not reap the benefits. ‘Corona travel bans squeeze migrant labor
