THE PACKER

May 3, 2009

Swine flu raises concern about trade, H-2A program

By Tom Karst

The threat of swine flu spreading worldwide has raised concerns about the fresh produce trade with Mexico and the processing of agricultural guest labor workers from Mexico.

No immediate effect was felt on movement of produce at the U.S.-Mexico border, said Allison Moore, communications manager for the Nogales, Ariz.-based Fresh Produce Association of the Americas.

"It is business as usual for the most part," Moore said April 29.

Mangoes are in high volume and Mexican grape shipments are just around the corner for early May, she said.

Despite advisories about non-essential travel to Mexico, Moore said Nogales produce professionals continued to travel as needed into the country, particularly to the grape production region near Hermosillo.

Northwest U.S. fruit industry sources said demand for fresh apples and pears in Mexico was hurt badly, with businesses and schools closing in late April, and trade sources hoped the disruption in demand wouldn't last long.

"They are closing businesses, schools, everything," said B.J. Thurlby, president of Northwest Cherry Growers, Yakima, Wash. "Everybody is trying to figure out the implications."

Mexico is a top market for pears and apples and Thurlby said the country could a major customer for Northwest cherries this year as well.

Apparently baseless concerns about transmission of the flu virus on fresh produce were repeated in the media.

The Jacksonville Daily Progress, in a Web story published April 29 advising "Six tips to avoid the swine flu" said:

"Although there have been no known cases of swine flu transmission through fruit and vegetable consumption, there does seem to be some concern about the possibility. The best bet is to buy locally grown fruits and vegetables if possible," the story said.

"The primary message is that this is not transported by food, whether it is pork or produce or anything else," said Julia Stewart, public relations director for the Newark, Del.-based Produce Marketing Association. "Nobody should be worrying about produce or any other food."

Hank Giclas, vice president of science and technology for Irvine, Calif.-based Western Growers, said some buyers are seeking assurance that produce is not a vehicle for transmission.

PMA and the Washington, D.C.-based United Fresh Produce Association put out news releases featuring government advice, reiterating that pork and all other foods were safe to eat.

Stewart said PMA hasn't canceled a May 28-29 Fresh Connections event in Guadalajara, Mexico.

H-2A worries

Some agricultural guest workers apparently will be delayed because U.S. consulate offices in Mexico that process workers were scheduled to be shut from April 28 to May 6, said Frank Gasperini, executive vice president of the Washington, D.C.-based National Council of Agricultural Employers.

Some growers have been able to find local workers, but Dan Bremer, president of AgWorks Inc, Lake Park, Gal., said 300 H-2A workers from Mexico didn't make it to Southeast blueberry, peach and other fresh produce farms because of closing of consulate offices because of the swine flu.

He said the closing of the consulate offices in Monterrey and Nuevo Laredo stranded hundreds of workers who were about to come to the U.S., who were then forced to pay their own way home.

While there are an increased number of local workers hired this year, he said growers are depending on the H-2A workers to harvest crops. Bremer said he was puzzled why farm workers were stopped from coming when thousands of workers cross into San Diego to work every day.

"I think there is a high probability it will hold people up, at least for a little while," said Gasperini.

He said U.S. consulate offices in Mexico could remain closed after May 6.

Libby Whitley, with masLabor, Lovingston, Va, said the disruption in processing of agricultural labor could be troubling if it is extended.

"If they don't start issuing H-2A visas in the next two weeks, regional crop losses will occur," she said.

She said apple growers could be particularly hard hit if H-2A visas aren't processed by late June, when apple harvest begins.

The use of the H-2A program has been growing in recent years, but still represents only a fraction - perhaps up to 10% - of overall seasonal farm labor needs.

More advertising required under the H-2A rules this year may have discouraged some smaller growers from taking part, but Gasperini said reports from Florida and the Carolinas indicate the program was set for substantial growth there.

Gasperini said statistics show the number of H-2A visas issued by the U.S. State Department in 2007 totaled more than 50,000, or about 61% more than in 2002. Gasperini estimated as many as 75,000 H-2A workers entered the U.S. in 2008.