The next time you’re in the produce section of the grocery store, family farmers want you choosing locally grown fruits and vegetables.
Fred Leitz, one of the owners and operators of Leitz Farms in Sodus, Michigan is headed to Washington, DC again this week, telling lawmakers it’s getting harder to compete with the fruit and vegetable prices countries like Mexico can offer. Consequently, consumers sometimes avoid local produce in favor of cheaper, foreign alternatives.
It’s the fourth time this year he’s been to the nation’s capital, to meet with lawmakers about changing federal agriculture policy.
Leitz said the difference between Mexico and the US for the cost to produce fresh fruits and vegetables is stark.
“They’re paying $10 a day to my $21 an hour. And they’re shipping product at the same time I am, into the same markets,” said Leitz. “It’s having a devastating effect on family farming.”
Leitz said one problem is the Adverse Effect Wage Rate – a federal policy that’s being administered by the US Department of Labor.
Leitz said there’s too much discretion left to the Labor Department and they’re driving up farm worker wages.
He added that’s having a devastating impact on family farms. He’s asking Congress to rework the legislation so it works as intended and keeps US farmers in business.
