Asparagus growers grapple with cost pressures

A Michigan asparagus grower says mandated wage increases by the Department of Labor are not sustainable and threaten the industry.

“Everything across the board has risen and it’s basically just coming out of your margin.”

Fourth-generation farmer Nick Ooman of Hart tells Brownfield the cost of the H-2A seasonal farm worker program, including this year’s nearly 13 percent wage increase, application fees, along with housing and transportation, puts the U.S. at a disadvantage.

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