By Clint Thompson The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) is hopeful a new Farm Bill will be established sooner rather than later. “We’re still optimistic that we may see a bill come out of the Senate and the House this year. As to whether or not they’ll be able to come together as a conference committee and get …
GFVGA Encourages Members to Fill Out Labor Survey
The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) encourages its producers to share their experiences with the H-2A program with the Agricultural Labor Working Group. The U.S. House Agriculture Committee established a bi-partisan committee that focuses on workforce issues faced by the country’s farmers. The Ag Labor Working Group is requesting input from growers via survey. Georgia is one of …
Georgia Ag Labor Relations Forum Scheduled for Nov. 14-15
By Clint Thompson Georgia agriculture (Ag) employers should mark their calendars for the upcoming Georgia Ag Labor Relations Forum, scheduled for Nov. 14-15, at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center. The two-day event attracts regulators and experts affiliated with the labor industry. The forum’s format enables employers, human resource managers and administrators to collaborate in securing a sustainable …
GFVGA Advises Growers to Be Prepared for New Heat Stress Regulations
The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) is encouraging its growers to be prepared for new heat regulations administered by the Biden Administration and OSHA. “OSHA has not yet released complete heat standards, but now is the time to get prepared,” GFVGA said in an email to its members. Producers can download the heat stress awareness poster and hang …
Same Story: Imports Impacting Georgia’s Specialty Crops
By Clint Thompson The more things change, the more they stay the same. Another spring vegetable season for Georgia producers was marred by rising imports that deflated market prices. “While we were in D.C. (recently), one of our growers was talking about $4 a box was the market price for squash. It was what it had fallen to when imports …
GFVGA Executive Vice President: Peach Producers Remain Optimistic Despite Year
By Clint Thompson Farmers are a resilient group of individuals. They have to be to get back up off the mat following one challenging blow after another. For Georgia’s peach growers, they will need to be if they hope to survive a devastating ’23 season. Chris Butts, executive vice president of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA), discussed …
Disaster Declaration Key for Georgia Peach Producers
By Clint Thompson A natural disaster declaration for 18 Georgia counties by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is vital assistance for peach producers impacted by the mid-March freeze. Chris Butts, executive vice president of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, discussed how important this declaration is for his growers who suffered near 100% loss. “What the declaration does …
Produce Food Safety Services Responds to FDA Investigations
LaGrange, Georgia — Recently issued reports from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) failed to identify sources of pathogen-related foodborne illness outbreaks, yet the investigative methodology and report conclusions yield important information for growers and packers. In a report titled “Factors Potentially Contributing to the Contamination of Cantaloupe…”, the FDA published 10 recommendation and requirements for growers of melons and …