GGIA Joins Five-State Coalition to Demand USDA Wage-Rate Transparency

The Georgia Green Industry Association (GGIA) has joined a coalition comprised of thirty organizations across five states, representing a diverse collection of crops, including eight advocacy groups, with the unified mission of filing a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This request aims to secure comprehensive details on how the USDA calculates the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR), the benchmark for minimum wages in the H-2A agricultural guest-worker program.

Blake Brown, Hugh C. Kiger Professor Emeritus at NC State University, is conducting forthcoming research showing that the AEWR calculations adversely impact farmers, consumers and American workers.

Moreover, rising produce prices have led American consumers to eat fewer fruits and vegetables, driving up health care costs associated with poor dietary balance. In 2023, USDA data showed that the United States became a net food importer— a shift that not only compounds domestic agricultural challenges but, most critically, heightens national security risks by increasing our exposure to global supply disruptions.

“Our growers are facing real challenges, and labor remains at the heart of it. GGIA is proud to be part of the effort to get clarity and accountability around the Adverse Effect Wage Rate,” says Lanie Riner, executive director of GGIA. “The lack of transparency in how it’s determined drives up the cost of producing healthy, high-quality plants—the very plants that shape and sustain the environments where we live, work, and play.”

The coalition, assembled by Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) and the NC Sweetpotato Commission (NCSC), cautions that the USDA’s current AEWR formula fuels a self-perpetuating cycle of wage inflation, eroding the economic foundation of U.S. agriculture. As costs rise, national food security is jeopardized, reliance on imports grows, and the stability of rural communities is put at risk.

Participating organizations are mobilizing stakeholders, coordinating with media outlets and state congressional delegations to advocate for a transparent, equitable wage-setting process that ensures the economic sustainability and long-term viability of American agriculture.

The coalition urges organizations and stakeholders affected by escalating AEWR rates to share their experiences with local and state representatives. Building a collective understanding of these challenges across agricultural sectors will support the development of a balanced and transparent wage-setting process—one that upholds fair treatment for farmworkers while preserving the viability of U.S. farms. A collaborative approach is vital to sustaining rural economies, protecting national food security and securing the future of American agriculture.*

The 30 organizations that have formed the coalition are as follows:

1. Alabama Farmers Federation

2. Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association

3. Alabama Nursery and Landscape Association

4. Blue Ridge Apple Growers Association

5. Georgia Agribusiness Council

6. Georgia Berry Exchange

7. Georgia Farm Bureau

8. Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association

9. Georgia Green Industry Association

10. Georgia Peach Council

11. Georgia Pecan Growers Association

12. Georgia Watermelon Association

13. International Fresh Produce Association

14. National Council of Agricultural Employers

15. North Carolina Apple Growers Association

16. North Carolina Chamber

17. North Carolina Christmas Tree Association

18. North Carolina Farm Bureau

19. North Carolina Growers Association

20. North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association

21. North Carolina Strawberry Association

22. North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission

23. North Carolina Tomato Growers Association

24. North Carolina Vegetable Growers Association

25. North Carolina Watermelon Association

26. Michigan Asparagus Association

27. South Carolina Farm Bureau

28.  South Carolina Peach Council

29. South Carolina Small Fruit Growers Association

30. Tobacco Growers Association of North Carolina

*Dr. Brown’s work is funded by the NC Chamber & numerous grower organizations.