The Adverse Effect Wage Rate will likely go down for fruit growers in 2026. The federal government has announced interim regulations that change how the regionalized minimum wages for H-2A workers are calculated. If the rule holds, the AEWR rate for major tree fruit production states will drop for all new contracts, most likely affecting the 2026 season. Ag employer groups are still reviewing the details but called the changes good news. “For years now, the Adverse Effect Wage Rate has increased at a pace far beyond the broader economy,” Kate Tynan, senior vice president of the Northwest Horticultural Council, […]