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What’s on the plate for 2016?

Experts weigh in with their views of the future
Whats On Plate

IMMIGRATION & REFORM: LOST HORIZON
Predictions for 2016 immigration reform are not optimistic. “I foresee it being a serious challenge into 2016 because of the presidential election,” Manes observes. “I wish I could tell you we’re just about to cross the finish line, but I can’t.” She says United Fresh has been pushing hard, not only to get legislators to see the urgency of the issue, but to provide more education about the issue itself.

Although some federal offices are very well informed, Manes says, “others fail to understand why the specialty crop industry relies so heavily on foreign labor.” Both politically and ideologically, the terrain remains problematic. “The rhetoric tends to be dramatic and outrageous instead of calm and rational.”

In the meantime, even though growers have trouble finding workers, they’re managing to get the job done “but not without a great deal of difficulty and added strain and challenge,” stresses Manes. “Just because you can go to the grocery store and get apples, doesn’t mean there wasn’t a whole lot of difficulty. I think you’re going to see a continued challenge for growers in terms of getting the workers they need.”

If the reform package isn’t passed, there may be a shift in 2016 to win smaller legislative victories. “Perhaps there are changes to the H-2A temporary worker system that might make it work more effectively,” Manes suggests, “to get something done and bring some relief.” But as for comprehensive reform, she says, “the odds don’t look good right now.”

“We don’t see any legislation on the horizon for immigration reform,” agrees Nassif. “Compromise seems nearly impossible in an election year.” Although the search for compromises is ongoing, Western Growers is already brainstorming possible solutions for 2017. Nassif predicts continued consequences for 2016 due to the lack of government action. “What I see not changing but continuing at an accelerated pace is more importing by U.S. shippers and packers, grown in foreign regions by U.S. companies, taking all these jobs offshore and generating economic benefits in foreign countries—rather than the United States.”

REGULATION & SCARCITY: ROAD WARS
Congress’ habit of passing short-term policy extensions instead of a long-term fix seems to be over for now, as federal transportation legislation was passed in the House and Senate and signed by President Obama. The delays may not have been all bad, however, as a few of the temporary extensions allowed the trucking sector some breathing room.

Kenny Lund, vice president of support operations at Allen Lund Company and ALC Logistics in Los Angeles, says the hours of service rollback and delayed electronic logging implementation helped the industry along, with the unforeseen bonus of lower fuel prices.

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