Good Fruit Grower

May 1

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18 MAY 1, 2016 Good Fruit Grower www.goodfruit.com T wo years ago, when seasonal farm labor began getting scarce in the Midwest, Michigan Farm Bureau leadership looked to the Washington fruit industry's handling of the same problem. In February 2015, the Farm Bureau formed a company called the Great Lakes Agricultural Labor Services LLC. Fashioned after the Washington Farm Labor Association (now known as WAFLA), the new member service pro- gram worked with 10 farmers to bring 407 H-2A workers into Michigan last year. This year, the program is doubling in size. The com- pany brought its first crew to the state to pick red peppers in late March. "We retained all 10 clients this year, found 10 more and will be bringing in 800 to 900 workers this year from February through late November," said Bob Boehm, GLALS's manager. Growers have to deal with six agencies before they can bring H-2A laborers to Michigan, he said. GLALS helps its clients complete and submit the complicated paperwork because there is a little less than a two-week window to get it all done. "It can be overwhelming, but GLALS breaks it down Michigan grows labor program GLALS is modeled on WAFLA to bring more seasonal workers to the Great Lakes region. by Dave Weinstock Labor

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