The Chief Operations Officer for the largest pumpkin grower in the nation says their biggest challenge is keeping up with minimum wage increases.

Tony Phillips is with Frey Farms based in Keenes, Illinois. He tells Brownfield they also grow watermelons, sweet corn and gourds totaling nearly 12,000 acres of produce that is all hand harvested- mostly by migrant workers through the H-2A program.

“In the country today, there is understanding that maybe you hire immigrant workers because of the cost savings, but it’s not a cost savings, it is actually significantly higher than the average minimum wage.”

H-2A workers are payed an Adverse Effect Wage Rate that is calculated based on what the average farm laborer makes in a particular state which increases with the minimum wage.

…