Washington Congressman Dan Newhouse stopped in Yakima to visit with tree fruit industry groups on May 7.
In a conversation with representatives from the Washington State Fruit Commission, Washington State Tree Fruit Association, Northwest Horticultural Council, and the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission, Newhouse spoke frankly about the challenges facing ag labor reform policies and took notes on other emerging industry concerns.
Across six terms in office, Newhouse has prioritized the agricultural interests of his Central Washington district — a position that came naturally following his career as a farmer. The candidates running to replace him don’t have ag backgrounds, however.
“So, you guys have your work cut out for you to make sure they understand agriculture, because that’s our district,” he said.
He and his staffers took notes on new rules for minimum residue levels that could impact pears in Canada; Washington’s new cherry prevailing wages, which have not yet been certified by the federal Department of Labor; and the ongoing challenges for specialty crop growers accessing federal assistance programs designed with commodity crops in mind.
On labor, Newhouse said he plans to keep pushing for reform, until the end of his term, and he praised the work of Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson of Pennsylvania, who chairs the House Agriculture Committee.
“I think we’ll have some legislation — that may not solve all our problems — but that we think we can pass,” he said.
His office in Yakima has been fielding calls from growers navigating H-2A visa refusals at the border. Usually, it’s a rare occurrence when a worker is flagged for further investigation into their background before being allowed to enter the U.S. for work, said Vicki Holleman-Perez, Newhouse’s district director for Yakima. This season, however, growers have been reporting frequent problems and delays, even for returning workers. She urged growers who encounter problems to reach out to her.
Riley Bushue of the Northwest Horticultural Council thanked Newhouse for his continued advocacy for trade policies that support fruit exporters.
“It’s been helpful to keep apples, cherries and pears in the conversation,” he said. “Thank you for continuing to beat that drum.”
Newhouse said he’s looking forward to spending more time on his family’s farm, which is primarily run by his son and daughter-in-law, after his term concludes.
“As you know, farmers don’t retire,” he said. “I plan to spend some more time on the farm and try to hang on to it. It’s tough out there.” •
