USApple is throwing its full support behind the Securing Agriculture's Workforce Act (SAWA), introduced by Pennsylvania Representative G.T. Thompson. The bill would codify changes to the H-2A guest worker program, including a methodology to limit year-over-year wage rate increases and account for housing and transportation costs that growers already cover. About 50 bipartisan co-sponsors have signed on, including lawmakers from Michigan, New York, and Washington.
Labor costs represent at least 60% of total production expenses for apple growers — and in some cases more — making the H-2A program central to orchard economics. The apple industry has become heavily dependent on H-2A workers because harvest windows are short and concentrated, making it hard to build a reliable domestic workforce. At the same time, apples are losing front-of-store retail space to berries and imported produce, adding category pressure on top of the cost squeeze.
The bill still needs Senate action during this congressional session, so it's not a done deal. Worth monitoring for buyers and category managers: if labor relief doesn't come through, expect continued orchard consolidation and potential tightening of domestic apple supply over the next several seasons.