IRVINE, CALIF. (Dec. 15, 2022) – Following introduction of the Affordable and Secure Food Act today, Western Growers President & CEO Dave Puglia issued the following statement: 

“We greatly appreciate the leadership and determination demonstrated by Senator Michael Bennet in bringing this bill forward. Based on carefully negotiated principles enshrined in the bipartisan House Farm Workforce Modernization Act, the Bennet bill will provide regulated legal status to experienced agricultural workers and make desperately needed improvements to the existing guest worker program to better meet future farm labor needs.

“Approval of the Affordable and Secure Food Act will help ensure a stable, legal agricultural workforce and secure the reliability of our domestically produced food supply. The alternative – the deteriorating status quo – is to resign ourselves to food insecurity as we increasingly rely on foreign countries to provide food for our nation.

“We call on the Senate to take up and pass the Bennet bill in these final days of the lame duck session.”

About Western Growers:

Founded in 1926, Western Growers represents local and regional family farmers growing fresh produce in California, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico. Western Growers’ members and their workers provide over half the nation’s fresh fruits, vegetables and tree nuts, including half of America’s fresh organic produce. Connect and learn more about Western Growers on Twitter and Facebook. 

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