Vienna, VA — A bipartisan immigration reform measure being debated in the U.S. Senate is an important first step toward solving the labor crisis facing U.S. agriculture, according to the U.S. Apple Association. Without the reforms included in the measure, the apple industry and many other labor-intensive agricultural industries face a severe shortage of workers that will make it difficult, if not impossible, to harvest their crops. Such losses could easily signal the end of many agricultural operations across the nation and drive production offshore.

"This legislation is a compromise and a strong starting point for meaningful agricultural labor reform," said USApple Chairman Kelly Henggeler of Henggeler Packing in Fruitland, ID. "Agriculture cannot afford to wait another year for help. Without passage of measures such as this compromise, growers will be faced with the task of harvesting crops without enough hands, and the nation will likely see more fruit rotting in orchards. Without and adequate supply of skilled, legal labor, much of the U.S. food supply will end up being imported from other countries around the globe."

The Senate compromise currently includes the majority of the AgJOBS provisions that USApple and other groups have been advocating for some time. These provisions are carefully crafted and based on long negotiations between agricultural workers and employers. AgJOBS was introduced earlier this year as separate legislation, S. 340 and H.R. 371, by Sens. Larry Craig (R-ID), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Reps. Howard Berman (D-CA) and Chris Cannon (R-UT).

Congress needs to take action quickly to support the apple industry. "This is not a problem apple growers can solve by themselves," said USApple President and CEO Nancy Foster. "The American apple growers are asking Congress to act so reliable and legal workers are available. We support a program that apple growers can participate in with confidence that it will work. The stakes are high - in fact the future of much of the American apple crop depends on choices made now by Congress."

Note: The text of this release an be downloaded from the News Releases section of USApple's Media Web site, at http://www.usapple.org/media/newsreleases/index.shtml. The U.S. Apple Association (USApple) is the national trade association representing all segments of the apple industry. Members include 36 state and regional apple associations representing the 7,500 apple growers throughout the country, as well as more than 300 individual firms involved in the apple business. USApple's mission is to provide the means for all segments of the U.S. apple industry to join in appropriate collective efforts to profitably produce and market apples and apple products.