Unpicked cherries and rising prices: the cost of Trump’s immigration policies

02 Oct 2025
27

In the United States, orchards are emptying of workers and cherries are rotting on the trees. The Trump administration’s immigration crackdown has triggered an agricultural paradox: fewer workers in the fields, lower yields, and continuously rising food prices. A downward spiral affecting both consumers and producers.

One Million Workers Lost

According to an analysis by Economic Insights and Research Consulting, since early 2025, around 1.2 million migrants have left the U.S. labor force. The most significant decline has occurred in agriculture: between March and July, employment in the sector fell by 6.5%, wiping out two years of growth.

The labor shortage has direct consequences on prices: fruit and vegetables have increased by more than 8% annually, while meat is up by 7%. “Mass deportations destabilize the economy and cause food prices to soar,” warns Vanessa Cárdenas, executive director of America’s Voice.

The H-2A Program: Solution or Illusion?

In response to the crisis, use of the H-2A temporary visa program is increasing. It is designed to authorize foreign workers to work on farms. However, its implementation is far from simple: complex bureaucracy and high costs make it inaccessible for small producers.

To this must be added a hard truth: 42% of the agricultural workforce consists of undocumented migrants. For them, fear of deportation limits the ability to claim rights or report exploitative conditions.

The Contradictions of the System

Many farmers admit that without migrant labor, harvests are at risk. Yet some, like Florida rancher Ryan Roth, still support the former president’s hardline stance, believing that stricter controls make it easier to hire “good workers.”

But the reality described by unions and agricultural associations tells a different story: absenteeism up to 60% in the fields, grueling shifts for those who remain, and entire supply chains slowing down. Even Trump himself had to admit that “by removing experienced workers, we’re destroying farmers,” suggesting the possibility of a “temporary permit” for some migrants.

As the White House struggles to reconcile political rhetoric with economic needs, the U.S. agri-food sector faces deep uncertainty. Without a structural solution, cherries, vegetables, and meat risk becoming increasingly expensive for consumers, while producers are caught between empty fields and unfulfilled promises.

Source: masp-lmneuquen-com

Image source: OPB


Cherry Times - All rights reserved

What to read next

Magnesium and potassium for increased fruit quality

Tech management

24 Oct 2024

The focus of the study conducted at the Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena (Spain) and the University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (Portugal) was to evaluate the effects of foliar application of magnesium (Mg) and potassium (K) on fruit quality parameters.

MAP technology and refrigeration: how to preserve cherries after harvest

Post-harvest​

17 Jun 2025

Cherries stay fresher after harvest thanks to MAP technology and refrigeration. A study from Hunan University (China) highlights benefits for fruit quality, extended shelf life, reduced losses, and precise control of humidity, temperature, and microbial growth during storage.

In evidenza

Vignola bets on under-50 farmers to save the future of its cherry heritage and traditions

Specialties

02 Oct 2025

In Vignola, cherries are more than fruit: they represent culture, tradition, and local identity. Yet the lack of generational turnover puts their future at risk. Under-50 farmers launch a project to revive the cherry supply chain, involve young people, and boost tourism.

Unpicked cherries and rising prices: the cost of Trump’s immigration policies

Production

02 Oct 2025

In the US, cherries rot on trees as Trump’s immigration policies push 1.2 million workers out of the labor force, cut farm jobs by 6.5%, and drive food prices up—vegetables +8%, meat +7%. A deepening crisis is hitting both farmers and consumers, exposing fragile food chains.

Tag Popolari