12/21/05 Support guest worker program

One of the highlight topics of the Washington State Horticultural Association annual convention earlier this month was labor&and in a topical context, the need to expand or continue a federal guest worker program within the realm of immigration reform. As the need for a stable yet legal work force for the tree fruit industry continues to grow, so is the need to have legal mechanisms in place. That is why a coalition of various industry organizations recently sent a letter to Washington State Ag Director Valora Loveland. Hort Association Director Jim Hazen says the message sent by those signing on to the letter is two fold. HAZEN: One is she serves as the President-elect of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. And she could hold a very important position within that group as the president to carry the important message of the need for a guest worker program. But Hazen adds Loveland can also serve as support for Governor Christine Gregoire, who also supports a guest worker program and can also provide lobbying power on a national level. HAZEN: Even though the Governor has come out in favor of AgJobs, we think that it is important for her to carry that message that she is supportive of this, and that any sort of immigration reform legislation that Congress might pass includes a revised guest worker program.