Innovation takes center stage at the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference in a new partnership with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) and Grand Farm to launch the SE Regional Innovation Row — a new hub within the conference that will spotlight the cutting-edge technologies transforming specialty crop production.

Located just outside the trade show floor in one of the conference’s highest traffic areas, SE Regional’s Innovation Row is designed to showcase startups and emerging ag tech companies that are redefining how fruits and vegetables are grown across the Southeast. From automation and robotics to precision irrigation, sensors, and AI, this new feature offers attendees an up-close look at technology in action and agriculture in motion.

“Innovation Row will be where growers go to discover what’s next,” said Chris Butts, Vice President of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association which produces the conference with the Georgia and South Carolina Peach Conferences. “We’re proud to provide a stage for the innovators helping producers tackle real-world challenges like labor shortages, input costs, and sustainability.”

The 2026 Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference — the largest specialty crop gathering in the region — features 280+ exhibitors, 14 commodity conferences, including a  coordinated precision agriculture and technology session featuring Innovation Row Exhibitors and researchers, along with three days of education, networking, and industry leadership.

If you are interested in being part of this forward-thinking showcase, reserve a space on Innovation Row by contacting Rhonda Freeman at rfreeman@asginfo.net or 706-845-8200 by November 14, 2025.

Innovation Row will be open to registered attendees during the normal trade show hours, Friday, January 9 from 9 AM to 6:15PM and Saturday, January 10 from 9 AM – 2:30 PM.

Join the community redefining how the Southeast grows fruits and vegetables.
Learn more at ugagrandfarm.caes.uga.edu or seregionalconference.org.

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About GFVGA

The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association is a trade association representing farmers producing fruits and vegetables in the southeastern United States. The organization provides a viable and united voice to represent the industry. Through support for educational programs, agricultural research, member services and marketing activities GFVGA encourages efficient, cost effective production for growers and increased consumption by consumers.

GFVGA is managed by Association Services Group, a professional management firm with offices in LaGrange, GA, and is accredited by the Association Management Company Institute.

Labor remains one of the most pressing challenges for Georgia growers, shaping both daily operations and long-term profitability. In mid-September 2025, growers gathered in Tifton, GA, for the tenth meeting of the Georgia Agricultural Labor Relations Forum to hear from regulators, researchers, legal experts, and industry leaders. 

This survey provided very insightful findings in identifying grower's priorities that have been now incorporated in the envisioned breeding efforts. Considering the findings from Georgia, Dr. Nankar and his team felt the need to expand this survey to regional and national level so that region specific trends can be identified. Taking this into account, a nationwide survey has been conducted and pepper and tomato growers' response to this survey is requested so that grower's priorities can be identified and incorporated in the upstream breeding researchers. Considering the southeast US leading contribution to pepper and tomato production, pepper and tomato growers from southeast (particularly FL, NC, and AL) are sincerely requested to participate in this survey. 

Your valuable input is critically important to our envisioned vegetable breeding research so please kindly participate in this survey. We envision to publish the survey findings and share it with all the survey participants and relevant stakeholders so that these findings can help all the stakeholders across the pepper and tomato value chain including breeders so that they can meaningfully serve their stakeholders needs. 

Take survey here: https://ugeorgia.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8vJnKbrxI6Vsjbg

ATLANTA, GA — Today, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J Harper announced, in coordination with Genuine Georgia and Atlanta-based Reveam, that Georgia Grown peaches have been exported to Mexico for the first time in 27 years. Mexico has had strict import restrictions on peaches produced in the southeastern United States due to pest concerns since 1994. Reveam’s proprietary, USDA-approved Electronic Cold-Pasteurization (ECP) technology enabled Genuine Georgia to meet Mexico’s strict import requirements and ship 42,000 pounds of Georgia Grown peaches south to Mexico. This achievement represents an important step forward towards opening more markets for Georgia producers and reducing barriers to international trade.

“Expanding access to reliable markets for Georgia producers is absolutely critical to ensure the continued success of our state’s #1 industry and our farm families,” said Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J Harper. “The partnership between Genuine Georgia and Reveam is a win for Georgia farmers and a blueprint for how our industry can use cutting-edge technology, like Reveam’s Electronic Cold-Pasteurization process, to break down barriers to international trade, exceed international food safety standards, and reduce food waste.”

“This is about more than just opening market access. It’s a transformation of what’s possible for Georgia and Southeastern Agriculture,” said Reveam Co-Founder and Chief Regulatory Officer Chip Starns. “Our ECP technology is giving Georgia growers the opportunity to reach new consumers, reduce waste, and meet the most rigorous international standards while allowing residents of Mexico to enjoy the finest peaches in the world without compromising freshness or flavor.”

“There are a lot of peach eaters in Mexico, and a lot of them would love to have those Georgia peaches,” said President of the Georgia Peach Council Duke Lane. “To give you a perspective of how many potential peach eaters are down there, you’ve got 22 million people in Mexico City and the surrounding areas. All of a sudden, we’re now bringing on another 20-plus million customers.”

“This is an excellent opportunity for Georgia peaches and Georgia farmers, and I appreciate Commissioner Harper’s efforts to make this a reality,” said Chairman of the House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee and owner of Dickey Farms, Robert Dickey.

Georgia last exported peaches to Mexico in 1994, when Mexican officials imposed a ban due to concerns about the potential spread of invasive pests. Since then, Georgia peach growers have been working in close coordination with the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Mexican agricultural authorities to develop and implement rigorous new protocols to meet Mexico’s phytosanitary standards.

A breakthrough in reopening the market came with the implementation of Electronic Cold-Pasteurization (ECP), an advanced treatment technology developed by Atlanta-based company Reveam. The USDA-approved process uses electron beam technology to eliminate pests and pathogens without chemicals or heat, helping maintain the quality and shelf life of fresh peaches while meeting Mexico’s strict import requirements.

Commissioner Harper has been a longtime supporter of Reveam, and in 2023, encouraged then USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack to fast-track USDA approval of a Reveam ECP facility in Georgia near the port of Savannah. A Georgia facility remains an integral part of Reveam’s long-term growth plans and will be a great asset for Georgia farmers looking to compete in new markets.

ATLANTA, GA — Earlier this week, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration announced Florida-based Bednar Growers Inc. issued a voluntary recall on cucumbers sold directly to consumers in Florida and to their wholesaler from April 29, 2025, to May 19, 2025, for Salmonella. The Georgia Department of Agriculture has received reports of grocery retailers canceling orders of Georgia Grown cucumbers that are not impacted by the Florida recall. Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J Harper issued the below statement to reassure retailers and consumers.  

“In light of the Bednar Growers Inc. cucumber recall in Florida, I want to reassure consumers and retailers alike that no Georgia Grown cucumbers or Georgia producers have been impacted,” said Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J Harper. “As Georgians head to the stores ahead of the holiday weekend, you can and should have 100% confidence in that Georgia Grown cucumbers are safe and wholesome, and with the spring harvest in full swing, it is a great time to buy Georgia Grown.”

Several Georgia retailers potentially received Bednar Growers’ recalled product, and Georgia Department of Agriculture Food Safety Division is inspecting these locations to ensure that the recalled product is no longer offered for sale. 

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GFVGA’s Chris Butts joined with leaders from producer organizations who highlighted the potential precision hag has to level the playing field for Georgia producers. “Automation and mechanization hold the promise to help Georgia growers produce more with fewer inputs. Labor remains our greatest cost and our crops require intensive inputs from skilled and experienced workers. To compete in the global market, our growers must be able to adopt affordable and reliable technologies to help them do more with less” said Butts.

The challenge for our industry? How to get these new technologies into the hands of Georgia growers? We’re starting with an expanded Precision Ag session at the Southeast Regional Conference in January. Stay tuned for more information!

Just a couple of weeks ago on April 7, 2025 the fresh produce industry quietly gained another FSMA Produce Safety Rule component as the Agricultural Water Rule went live. This final rule went into effect for “large” farms defined by produce sales more than $500,000.00, respectively.

Also known as Subpart E - Ag Water of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule (PSR), this final rule has replaced the requirements of determining microbial quality criteria with frequent testing to instead implementing a high level, systems based assessment to be conducted at least once a year.

Factors to consider for the Ag Water Assessment include understanding the water source, distribution system, any conveyance system in between to water source and distribution to the crop, how the water is being used, any specific crop characteristics, how the crop is being grown, environmental factors, flooding potential and frequency, and UV exposure. There is even a section to collect “other information” which is where the industry can continue to conduct baseline water tests (which is recommended by GFVGA’s Produce Food Safety Services) to understand water quality.

The ultimate goal is to determine if your water is “of safe and of adequate sanitary quality for it’s intended use.” The FDA Ag Water Assessment Builder is a helpful tool to capture the results and make determinations for next steps.

The Rule describes agricultural water as water “used during growing activities for covered produce using a direct water application method, and water used for certain activities during and after harvest.” These activities would include washing, cooling, transportation, and handwashing.

If any of the three components of the agricultural water definition is not met, then the water as used is not agricultural water.

• Covered activities – Growing, harvesting, packing, or holding covered produce.
• Covered produce – Produce that is subject to the requirements of the PSR. The Rule covers most fruits and vegetables that are typically consumed raw, including items like apples, carrots, lettuce, tomatoes, berries, and leafy greens, mushrooms, and some nuts, as long as they are grown for human consumption and considered “raw agricultural commodities (RACs); produce that is usually cooked or processed before eating is generally not covered under the rule.
• Water applied to the crop in a way that is intended to, or is likely to, contact covered produce or food contact surfaces.

Several things impact pre-harvest water risks including the source of the water used (e.g., surface, well, municipal), how it is applied (e.g., overhead, drip, furrow) and when it is applied (e.g., at planting, during production, right before harvest).

The FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements related to ag water used for sprouts and ag water used during harvest and post harvest activities have not changed with the roll out of Subpart E that relates to only pre-harvest ag water. Additionally, the Produce Safety Rule requirement to conducts the Ag Water Systems Inspection is different from the Ag Water Assessment described in Subpart E.

OTHER INDUSTRY RESOURCES:

• FSMA PSR Ag Water Webinar with CONTACT’s Produce Safety Science
• FDA’s Requirements for Harvest and Post-Harvest Agricultural Water in Subpart E for Covered Produce Other than Sprouts

If you have any questions about the newly released Ag Water Rule or any other FSMA or market based food safety program, please reach out to Brenden St John at bstjohn@pfssinfo.com or 706.881.0456.

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Produce Food Safety Services is a service of The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association providing nationwide consultation, food safety program development, training and education for fresh produce growers, packers, shippers & processors. Our professional food safety experts have the experience to work alongside an operation to create, train & help implement food safety programs that work. Find assurance through proven PFSS professionals with experience in PrimusGFS, GLOBALGAP, PrimusLabs, USDA, Produce Harmonized Standard, National Organic Program, and other audit schemes.

Key to the project is a Grower Survey. The Survey may be found here:

https://ugeorgia.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_095yyiNkACL9VDU

Your assistance is requested. Capturing accurate data at the launch of this project is vital. The market for fresh, domestic juices and purees is significant and growing. This study aims to unlock some of the obstacles and highlight some of the opportunities to equip growers with solid information upon which to plan future business activities designed to add value to what now is only waste.

We would appreciate your consideration relative to participating in one of four virtual meetings scheduled for Tuesday, April 22 and Thursday, April 24. Both days we have 7:30 am and 6:00 pm time slots secured. The meetings will be 30 minutes in length and include brief comments from each member of the project team, a review of the Work Plan and the Survey. Please choose the date convenient to you. Click on one of the links below ON THE DAY OF THE MEETING in order to join.

Tuesday April 22 7:30 AM :

Link to Outlook Calendar Invite

Click here for ZOOM Call Information

Tuesday April 22 6:00 PM:  

Link to Outlook Calendar Invite

Click here for ZOOM Call Information

Thursday April 24 7:30 AM:

Link to Outlook Calendar Invite

Click here for ZOOM Call Information

Thursday April 24 6:00 PM:

Link to Outlook Calendar Invite

Click here for ZOOM Call Information

The meetings are not commodity specific. Participation is not mandatory. If you are able to join us, know that we will respect your time by bringing information of value. Ultimately, we respectfully request your assistance by completing the Survey by May 1, 2025.  

Charles Hall, the founder and former CEO of Association Services Group, LLC, a LaGrange-based association management company, passed away on January 20 at the age of 74.  

Known for his servant leadership, love of agriculture, and passion for associations, Hall was instrumental throughout his life and career in building trade associations that would go on to do great things within their industries. 

“Since founding ASG 30 years ago this year, Charles has remained dedicated to serving his clients and supporting his team. He is a respected leader in the association management industry and a cherished member of our ASG family. He genuinely loved our team, and he was loved in return,” said Katie Oxford, ASG CEO.  

After founding ASG in 1995, Hall brought on the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Association as one of his first clients. At that time, one of the key objectives in GFVGA’s mission statement was for the new association to become the ‘Voice’ of Georgia’s produce industry. Hall took that mission as a personal challenge, and today, GFVGA hosts one of the premier regional trade shows in the country. A generation of industry leadership developed under his guidance all working to advance the industry and provide better opportunities for growers. “Charles was more than a leader to our industry and the farmers and producers he worked so hard to protect. Our industry will miss his leadership, but we will also miss our friend”, said Chris Butts, GFVGA Vice President.

Hall was recognized for his industry and association leadership multiple times. In 2011, he was awarded the Clifford Clark Award as the outstanding association executive in Georgia by the Georgia Society of Association Executives. Then in 2018, he was named a member of ‘The Packer 25’. He received the Glenn Bostrom Award in 2019 for outstanding career achievement from the Association Management Company Institute, and then in 2022 upon his retirement, Hall was awarded the “Friend of the County Agent” Award – the highest honor awarded by the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Agent Association.

Hall was deeply loved and respected by family, friends, colleagues, and community members across the country. He was a beloved father, brother, and grandfather, as well as a cherished mentor and wise friend. Charles is survived by his wife of more than 50 years, Jan, two children Emily (husband: Wendell) and Tamlin, and six grandchildren (Bethany, Hannah, Connor, Addison, Brock, and Hendrix).  

Charles will be laid to rest in Hall Family Cemetery, LaGrange, Georgia.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Charles' memory may be made to First Baptist Church on the Square, LaGrange, Georgia. 

GFVGA Executive Vice President, Chris Butts, presented Pointer with the award at last week’s Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference. “Ann Margaret has played a vital role in shaping the ag labor issue for a generation of growers.  With a deep background in agriculture, Ann Margaret understands the issues and appreciates the unique challenges faced by growers. As an industry, we are fortunate to have had a champion like Ann Margaret working to protect the rights of growers and their ability to put food on tables across the country.”

Pointer began her practice in Atlanta after receiving her law degree from the University of Virginia in 1976. Inspired at a young age by Justice Susie Sharp, the first female Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, Ann Margaret was also encouraged by her parents to pursue her legal career. In the years since, she has been recognized by countless organizations for her accomplishments and leadership in ag labor litigation. Ann Margaret is a frequent presenter at the Georgia Ag Labor Forum and Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference.

GFVGA members will continue to benefit from Ann Margaret’s experience and leadership as we work to bring about meaningful change for H-2A growers. As we look to continue these efforts in 2025, we celebrate the opportunity to recognize Ann Margaret for her lifetime of contributions.

Many social audits are based around the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) which is founded on the conventions of the International Labor Organization (ILO). This is an internationally recognized code of labor practice and is viewed as a global reference.

ETI Base Code

The ETI Base Code has 9 basic pillars:

• Employment is freely chosen
• Freedom of association and the right to collectively bargain are respected
• Working conditions are safe and hygienic
• Child labor is not used
• Living wages are paid
• Working hours are not excessive
• No discrimination is practiced
• Regular employment is provided
• No harsh or inhumane treatment is allowed

While most operations agree with these pillars, agricultural operations may have some difficulty achieving full compliance with these expectations.

Employment is freely chosen

For employment to be freely chosen there can be no forced, bonded or involuntary prison labor. Workers cannot be required to leave “deposits” or their identity papers with their employer. Also, workers must be free to leave their employment with reasonable notice. This must be proven with a documented program that is communicated to workers and suppliers.

Freedom of association and the right to collectively bargain are respected

Farm workers in the USA do not have the right to unionize under the National Labor Regulations Act (NLRA). However, the ETI Code asks that all workers have the right to join or form trade unions of their own choosing and to bargain collectively. Because it is restricted by law, employers are expected to facilitate the development of parallel means for independent and free association and bargaining.

Working conditions are safe and hygienic

Mitigations must be implemented to prevent accidents and injury associated with or occurring in the course of work. The causes of hazards inherent to the working environment must be removed and/or minimized. This may include needing lock-out-tag-out procedures, holding fire drills or providing workers with personal protective equipment (PPE).

Workers must receive health and safety training. For farming this may require training on topics such as heat stress, tractor safety, chemical safety, fire safety, first aid, fire extinguisher use and formal forklift training.

Access to clean toilet facilities and potable water must be provided. Where housing is provided, it must be clean, safe and meet the basic needs of the workers.

Child labor is not used

Children (under 14 years of age) may not be recruited for work. Operations must have policies in place to transition of any child found to be performing child labor to enable her or him to attend education until no longer a child. Workers under the age of 18 should not be employed at night or in hazardous conditions. Some states have additional requirements for workers under 18 which must be met such as having a work permit or limiting work hours during the school year.

Living wages are paid

Wages and benefits must meet legal standards or industry benchmark standards. All workers are provided written and understandable information about their employment conditions in respect to wages before they enter employment and about the particulars of their wages for the pay period concerned each time that they are paid. Deductions from wages as a disciplinary measure is not permitted. Any deductions from wages that are not legally required must be done with the express permission of the worker. All disciplinary measures must be recorded.

Showing in a social audit that this pillar is met largely includes going through the payroll for several workers. Issues often arise when outside payroll companies are employed and when there are a combination of domestic and foreign visa workers. When workers are paid piece-rate this can be difficult to verify.

Working hours are not excessive

This is perhaps the hardest pillar to fully comply with in agriculture. There are several key points which by nature of the industry and the job cannot be regularly met:

• Working hours, excluding overtime should not exceed 48 hours per week.
• All overtime is voluntary and is at least 125% of the regular rate of pay.
• The total hours worked in any 7-day period does not exceed 60 hours,
• Workers are provided with at least 1 day off in every 7-day period or 2 days off in every 14-day period.

The social audits cannot force compliance with these standards. However, when participating in a social audit that is required by a retailer, issues may arise when non-compliances are noted regarding working hours.

No discrimination is practiced

Discrimination is prohibited in hiring, compensation, access to training, promotion, termination or retirement based on race, caste, national origin, religion, age, disability, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, union membership or political affiliation.

Regular employment is provided

Obligations to domestic employees cannot be avoided through the use of labor-only contracting, sub- contracting or homeworking arrangements. Apprenticeship schemes with no real intent to impart skills or provide regular employment are not allowed.

No harsh or inhumane treatment is allowed

Physical abuse or discipline, the threat of physical abuse, sexual or other harassment and verbal abuse or other forms of intimidation are prohibited. Operations are expected to have a written policy that is communicated to workers and suppliers. 

If you have questions about how to prepare for a social compliance audit, contact Produce Food Safety Services at (706) 407-2551 or email Beth Oleson at boleson@pfssinfo.com.

 The event has been held annually since 2016.  GFVGA Director of Education Beth Oleson says the program is a critical element for a farm’s successful navigation of labor regulations.  “Farmers throughout the US continue to prioritize a safe and positive atmosphere for the skilled labor force that they require. Unfortunately, the labor regulations from all the major governing bodies continue to grow in their constant changes, complexity and their costliness.  These costs are not  translated to the consumer, but rather falls back to the farmer to manage.”

The 2024 event landed amid the results of an injunction that GFVGA brought against the US Department of Labor’s attempt to create a new right for foreign temporary farmworkers to unionize within its “Farmworker Protection Rule”.  The preliminary injunction expressly prohibited DOL from enforcing the Farmworker Protection Rule in the 17 listed states, against Miles Berry Farm, and members of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association.  In response, the DOL’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification announced a delay in the transition schedule for implementing the H-2A application and job orders associated with the 2024 Farmworker Protection Final Rule.

Chris Butts, GFVGA’s Executive Vice President, noted the forum helped provide greater certainty for employers in this fluid environment. “Our ag producers face many issues beyond their control. Unfortunately, producers and farmers nationwide who work to hire a legal workforce to harvest our food and fiber also must manage large and sometimes unexpected increases in wage rates. This is coupled by recent years of  pages and pages of new worker regulations to navigate and implement. The costs of these federal regulations do not pass to the consumer – so they must be shouldered by the American farmer.”

To help address the increased complexity of various federal and state regulations, this year’s educational lineup included speakers from several key regulating agencies. These included, US DOL Wage and Hour Division and Office of Foreign Labor Certification, OSHA, the US Environmental Protection Agency, and WorkSource Georgia, a relatively new program within the Technical College System of Georgia tasked with conducting housing inspections and employee welfare checks for US DOL.

Speakers address key issues like heat stress, worker protection standards for pesticide management, and updates to H-2A and H-2B operational standards. The program also featured a session on mental health and stress management. 

Butt’s continued, “Attendees at this event were able to hear straight from the source on several key elements of managing their farm and their farm labor. They want to be in compliance and work to offer safe, healthy environments to their employees” He said “It’s critical to the survival of the industry that organizations like ours continue to help growers maintain compliance with very complicated H-2A program. By uniting the agricultural industries of Georgia we better  monitor and advocate amidst the continued release of new regulations from regulatory organizations such as OSHA and DOL.”

About GFVGA

The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association is a trade association representing farmers producing fruits and vegetables in the southeastern United States. The organization provides a viable and united voice to represent the industry. Through support for educational programs, agricultural research, member services and marketing activities GFVGA encourages efficient, cost-effective production for growers and increased consumption by consumers.

GFVGA is managed by Association Services Group, a professional management firm with offices in LaGrange, GA, and is accredited by the Association Management Company Institute.

On August 2nd, members of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) Staff and Board met with representatives from WorkSource, powered by the Technical College System of Georgia. This meeting was a significant step in addressing ongoing concerns related to Georgia's Foreign Labor Certification Program (FLC) and the Migrant Seasonal Farmworker Program (MSFW), which were transitioned from the Department of Labor (DOL) to the Technical College System of Georgia in early 2023.

August 1 | Grower Meeting, Moultrie, GA 

August 2 | H2A Session with the Technical College System of Georgia, Tifton, GA

August 19-20 | Farm Tour with Dean & Director Nick Place 

August 20-21 | Georgia Ag Labor Relations Forum, Tifton, GA 

August 27 | Joint Ag Chairmen's Ag Issues Summit, Perry, GA

August 28 | GFVGA Board Meeting, Tifton, GA

Produce Food Safety Services (PFSS), a full-service food safety consultation program, created by the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) is pleased to announce USDA funding opportunities to offset the expenses of several key food safety program elements.

From customized food safety plans and risk assessments to traceability and sustainability, our experienced food safety consultants work to meet the unique needs of growing, packing, shipping and minimal processing operations anywhere in the United States. GFVGA works to keep fees as low as possible but with in-person one-on-one consulting, travel, document development, audit assistance, and follow up it can add up. All PFSS plans are customized for each client because no two farming operations are the same, and a fill-in-the-blank template is insufficient.

After working with a PFSS food safety specialist, each operation then works with the local FSA office for reimbursement through the Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program (FSCSC). Any produce operation considered a small business or medium sized business (an avg annual monetary value of specialty crops of no more than $1 million) may be eligible to receive assistance for the following expenses offered or managed by PFSS:

• A percentage of the consulting fees to developing food safety plan for the first time
• A percentage of the costs to maintaining or updating an existing food plan 
• A percentage of the cost to obtain a food safety certification, including application fees, inspection costs, inspection fees (including travel costs and per diem for certifiers), user fees or certifier sales assessments, and postage. 
• A percentage of the cost to upload audit reports and certification documentation into commercial audit databases.
• A percentage of the microbiological testing for products, soil amendments, and water as specified by a food safety plan or food safety management system. 
• The cost of food safety training for the specialty crop operation. 

GFVGA is committed to serving produce operations and meeting the needs of its members on all fronts. Food safety is an area that continues to be an area of constant change from the regulatory and customer fronts. PFSS Food Safety Specialists are proven experts in their fields and are a professional food safety resource for any operation. In the past GFVGA has provided discounts through USDA Specialty Crop Block Grants. Now working through USDA’s FSA offices, PFSS can continue to help produce operations by providing customized food safety programs, trainings, audit prep, and onsite consulting while helping relieve some of the financial burden.   

For information about the USDA FSCSC program, visit farmers.gov/food-safety.

Call or email PFSS Director of Food Safety, Beth Oleson, with your food safety questions at (706) 407-2551 or boleson@pfssinfo.com. Visit www.producefoodsafetyservices.com to learn more about how we can meet your food safety needs.

Charley Lollis grew up in Perry, Georgia. Though she didn’t grow up in a farming family her love for agriculture came at a young age through showing livestock and her involvement with the FFA. Lollis attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and graduated with a Bachelors in Agricultural Communication and Agribusiness. While at ABAC Charley was able to intern with various organizations including the Sunbelt Ag Expo, Georgia’s Rural Center, and the Georgia Pecan Growers Association.

After graduating in 2022, Charley started her career in Chemical Sales focusing on specialty crops in Georgia and North Florida for AgBiome. Charley is excited to join the hardworking team of GFVGA and eager to get out and spend time with our members!

Get to Know More About Charley

Why are you passionate about agriculture?

I have seen firsthand the struggles our growers face every day, when you choose to farm you understand that so much of the end result is out of your control. I don’t think I have what it takes to be an American Farmer in these times, but I can work every day to tell the story of these hardworking individuals and why now, more than ever, we must support the people who feed us.

What is your favorite Georgia grown fruit/veggie?

After serving for a year as Georgia’s Watermelon Queen it would be hard for me not to say Georgia Grown Watermelon is my favorite!

The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, represented by the Southeastern Legal Foundation, joined a coalition of produce growers, farmers, and State Attorneys General to bring suit against the Department of Labor challenging new rules proposed for the H-2A program.

The new “Worker Protection Rules”, slated to go into effect in late June, will continue to make the H-2A program prohibitively expensive and exceeds authority granted to DOL all the while adding more complex regulations to the already overly complicated program.

During the New Deal, Congress gave some employees the right to form labor unions through the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), but it explicitly excluded farm workers from the right to form unions and has continued to do so for nearly 90 years.

Now, without any signal of approval from Congress, the Department of Labor is taking unprecedented steps to create rights Congress did not intend.

Under a new agency rule, the Department is requiring agricultural employers to allow temporary foreign farm workers to form unions, creating a new right out of thin air that is not even granted to American farm workers. The Department claims that it has authority to do so under the Immigration Reform and Control Act, even though that congressional statute—which grants temporary H-2A employment visas to migrant farm workers—never so much as mentions the right to form unions.

Vice President of Litigation for SLF Braden Boucek states, “President Biden is once again mobilizing the bureaucracy to dismiss and override Congress when it won’t act as he wants. This time it comes at the expense of America’s farmers. Making a living off the land is hard enough these days without the Department of Labor granting a right to foreign workers that is denied to Americans.”

Executive Vice President for Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association Chris Butts states, “This drastic measure by the Department of Labor will be devastating for the agricultural industry, not just in Georgia but across the nation. Our members’ farms and employees will suffer because they cannot afford to meet this program’s unreasonable and unlawful demands. We must level the playing field for producers instead of continuing to stack the deck against them.”

ATHENS, GA, May 7, 2024 – The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) is partnering with the University of Georgia’s Campus Kitchen, a student-led organization, to make a meaningful impact on the Athens community. On May 7, 2024, at 11 a.m. ET, GFVGA donated a significant amount of produce to Campus Kitchen to benefit students and families experiencing food insecurity in the Athens and Clarke County area.

The donation included a wide variety of locally grown, in-season fruits and vegetables that were used as part a recent creative campaign produced by The Partnership, Inc. (TPI) of Atlanta, the marketing agency for GFVGA. On hand to help unload the large produce delivery was UGA women’s basketball player, rising senior, Asia Avinger, accompanied by The Classic City Collective’s Steven Farmer and Patrick Jacobs. Also joining Chris Butts, EVP of GFVGA were Julie Crow, Brooke Hyland and Greg Grantham from TPI. UGarden graduate students were also on hand to transport and unload the produce into the Campus Kitchen coolers.

"We are thrilled to partner with UGA's Campus Kitchen to make this donation possible," said Chris Butts, Executive Vice President of GFVGA. "This initiative highlights our commitment to supporting our community and promoting sustainable practices within the agricultural industry."

Event Details:

The event took place at the UGArden Student Community Farm, located at 2510 S. Milledge Ave, Athens, GA 30605. Members of the media were invited to attend and capture the impact of this collaboration on the Athens community.

For more information, please contact Brooke Hyland at brooke@thepartnership.com.

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About Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA):

The GFVGA is a nonprofit organization representing Georgia's fruit and vegetable growers’ association. They are committed to supporting the state's agricultural industry and promoting the benefits of locally grown produce.

About University of Georgia’s Campus Kitchen:

UGA's Campus Kitchen is a student-led organization dedicated to reducing food waste and food insecurity in the Athens community. They collect surplus food from campus dining halls and local businesses to prepare meals for those in need.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Tuesday, April 30th, 2024

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Atlanta, GA – Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper announced today that twelve of Georgia’s Agricultural Commodity Commissions are seeking nominations from producers to serve on their respective commissions. Nomination forms are available on the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s website and will be accepted until May 24th, 2024. Administered by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, these commissions oversee farmer-funded programs dedicated to strengthening Georgia’s #1 industry through research, education, and promotion of a number of Georgia Grown commodities.

“Georgia’s Agriculture Commodity Commissions play a vital role in supporting and advancing our state’s #1 industry through research, promotion, and education,” said Commissioner Tyler Harper. “I strongly encourage producers to step forward and consider serving on these vitally important commissions as we work together to ensure the continued success of Georgia’s farmers and farm families.”

Producers can nominate themselves, be nominated by others, or receive a nomination from an affiliated organization for their commodity. Their role involves attending periodic meetings and making decisions on behalf of their peers. Commission members serve a three-year term, with the possibility of reappointment. They represent the interests of the commodity’s producers. The Commodity Commission Ex Officio Committee makes appointments to the commissions in July.

Commission Members with Expiring Terms:

• Apple Commission: Andy Futch (Gilmer County) and John Reece (Gilmer County)
• Beef Commission: Kenneth Murphy (Meriweather County) and Kristy Arnold (Wayne County)
• Blueberry Commission: John Strickland (Clinch County) and Jerome Crosby (Atkinson County)
• Corn Commission: Herbert Daniel (Evans County) and Lee Webster (Burke County)
• Cotton Commission: Chad Mathis (Baker County) and Bart Davis (Colquitt County)
• Equine Commission: Julie Murphy (Brooks County) and Robin Tardy (Madison County)
• Milk Commission: Aillene Schaapman (Wilcox County) and Paul Johnson (Decatur County)
• Peach Commission: Lawton Pearson (Crawford County) and Drew Echols (Hall County)
• Pecan Commission: Brenda Evans (Peach County) and Emory Mixon (Toombs County)
• Tobacco Commission: Daniel Johnson (Pierce County)
• Vegetable Commission: Jamie Brannen (Echols County), Jason Tyrone (Lowndes County), and Bill Brim (Tift County)
• Wine & Grape Commission: Gary Engel (Gilmer County) and Eric Miller (White County)

Nomination forms are available on the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s dedicated commodity commission webpage or can be requested via email. Completed forms should be submitted by email or mail to:

Georgia Dept of Agriculture

ATTN: Andy Harrison

19 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SW.

Suite 324

Atlanta, GA 30334

For further information, please contact Andy Harrison at 404-710-1196 or andy.harrison@agr.georgia.gov. 

Established in the 1960s by the Georgia General Assembly, the Georgia Agriculture Commodity Commissions operate as official entities of the State of Georgia. The Ex Officio Committee responsible for appointments includes the Commissioner of Agriculture, the President of the Georgia Farm Bureau, and two members appointed by the Georgia Senate and House Agriculture Committees.

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Media Contacts

Matthew Agvent, Communications Director

770-238-7216

Matthew.Agvent@agr.georgia.gov

Liz Rivera-Brown, Deputy Communications Director

404-772-2056

Lizaura.Rivera-Brown@agr.georgia.gov

1. Know Your Rights

OSHA’s new proposed rule alters the current regulation by removing the explicit regulatory requirement that an employee representative be an employee of the employer being inspected. Instead, the proposed rule now reads that “the representative(s) authorized by employees may be an employee of the employer or a third party.” The proposed rule also authorizes a third party who can be used to assist OSHA during an inspection based on their “relevant knowledge, skills, or experience with hazards or conditions in the workplace or similar workplaces, or language skills.”

Keep in mind that employers have Fourth Amendment and state property rights, and nothing in the proposed new rule changes that. Even under the new rule, OSHA can only inspect worksites with the employer’s consent unless the agency has a warrant. Therefore, employers are still entitled to control how OSHA accesses company property and the areas covered during an inspection unless the agency has a warrant. Work with your counsel if you have questions and to understand the ramifications that might result if you push the agency representatives to demand a warrant.

2. Revisit Your Procedures For When OSHA Shows Up to Conduct an Inspection

Review these comprehensive OSHA Inspection FAQs, then put together a plan for when OSHA arrives at your worksite. For example, designate one supervisory employee to be the contact person when OSHA arrives and ensure OSHA’s inspector stays within the inspection’s scope. A designated manager or coordinator should stay with each OSHA compliance officer at all times during the inspection, except during interviews with non-supervisory employees who do not request a manager’s presence. It is a strategy question whether to use the safety manager in this role. Be sure you are ready to take side by side photos, sampling, and tests when OSHA requests to do so.

3. Know How to Survive an OSHA Inspection

Review our “Focus 4” Threshold Tips for Surviving an OSHA Inspection that every employer should know: (1) don’t permit any manager or supervisor interviews by OSHA on the day the agency arrives; (2) don’t give federal OSHA any documents other than your OSHA 300 logs, 300A summaries, 301 forms, and relevant safety data sheets (SDS) on the first day of the inspection; (3) take the OSHA inspector straight to and straight from the area of the referral, complaint, or even the pertinent area of an emphasis program inspection; and (4) ensure your employees are refraining from any high hazardous activities occurring while OSHA is present.

4. Protect Your Trade Secrets

Even if your procedures during an OSHA inspection are not fully developed, a top priority is to ensure that site management knows what areas of the worksite contain trade secrets or other confidential commercial information that you would not want a third-party to see or access. For those areas, you should insist that no third party access these areas, and OSHA’s photos should be marked “trade secret.”

5. Establish or Recommit to a Safety Committee

If your worksite does not have a safety committee already in place, consider establishing one ASAP. That committee arguably would hold the “representative” role in walkaround inspections, and employees may designate a safety committee member as their representative instead of a union member. Note that when setting up safety committees, you must be aware of the National Labor Relations Act and unfair labor practice concerns if the safety committee is not properly implemented. So, you’ll want to seek legal counsel before implementation. 

6. Decide if the penalties for refusal warrant a denial of a Third-Party Representatives Access to your worksite

After you have followed the steps above, you may decide as a matter of policy to refuse requests for third parties to accompany OSHA. One option is to advise the OSHA compliance officer that they may conduct their inspection, but you are choosing to deny entry to any third party. You have the Fourth Amendment right to refuse a walkaround inspection on any basis and require OSHA to get a warrant to conduct its inspection. But you should note that OSHA may treat this refusal to allow a third-party on-site as a “refusal of entry” and seek a warrant. Seek legal counsel to decide if refusing entry is the right option for you. 

7. Prepare for an Increase in Labor Actions and Union Organizing

See our prior Insight for a thorough discussion of what is happening across the country on the labor front and things you can do to immediately and efficiently respond to union organizing and work stoppages. For the most up to date information, make sure you review our Labor Relations Insights, since there has been much activity from the NLRB in the recent days and weeks. On the front end, your action plan may include maintaining effective lines of communication with employees, consistently applying work-related policies and procedures, having an effective complaint resolution process in place, and proactively reviewing compensation packages to ensure you remain competitive.

You should understand your rights if OSHA arrives at your worksite and have a plan before you are asked to allow a non-employee to accompany an inspector at your worksite. If you have any questions, contact the authors of this Insight, your Fisher Phillips attorney, or any member of our Workplace Safety Practice Group or Labor Relations Practice Group. Make sure you are subscribed to Fisher Phillips’ Insight System to get the most up-to-date information on OSHA issues.

Read article from Fisher Phillips HERE. 

Click HERE to read Stanley's full story. 

Atlanta, GA - Today, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper announced the Georgia Citrus Commission will vote on their assessment from April 1^st – April 30^th, 2024. Stakeholders can vote on allocating resources to support projects led by the University of Georgia (UGA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). All producers capabe of marketing more than 50,000 pounds are eligible to vote on the assessment. 

The collected funds are earmarked exclusively for research, education, and promotional efforts. Research efforts will tackle production challenges, diseases, variety development, fertility, and post-harvest issues. To ensure equitable contribution from producers, the Commission has established an assessment rate within the market order, capped at two-tenths of a cent ($0.002) per pound of packed and marketed fruit. This assessment applies to Georgia producers engaged in or with the potential to sell fifty thousand pounds (50,000 lbs.) or more of citrus fruit annually.

To be approved, 25 percent of the distributed ballots must be returned by growers. Among these, a vote of at least 66 percent or two-thirds in favor is required. The Georgia Department of Agriculture will announce the voting results by the end of May 2024. The marketing order will remain in effect for three years, subject to renewal by growers through another vote at that time.Additionally, ballots must be fully completed, and the return envelope must be signed and postmarked by April 30th, 2024.

For assistance or questions, contact Andy Harrison at 404-710-1196 or email andy.harrison@agr.georgia.gov. Georgia growers who have not received a ballot should also contact Andy Harrison for assistance.

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For Georgia fruit and vegetable growers, changes to the H-2A program can not come soon enough. Mandated wage increases over the last two years are estimated to cost Georgia growers over $160 million as producers increasingly rely on H-2A workers to bring fresh produce to market.

The recommendations have received widespread favorable reactions from industry leaders. Cathy Burns, CEO, International Fresh Produce Association remarked, “The bipartisan Agricultural Labor Working Group has identified a bipartisan road map to get the relief, particularly wage relief, that the fresh produce and floral industry needs to survive. Congress cannot continue to rely on the undeniable tenacity of the American farmer to figure out a way to survive under the current broken system and must act now to prevent more farms from going out of business.”

Michael Marsh from the National Council of Agricultural Employers echoed Burn’s sentiment. “The National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE) represents over 85% of America's farm and ranch families who utilize the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Worker Program.  NCAE applauds the solid bipartisan work of the Agricultural Labor Working Group and its leadership in advocating for much needed and necessary reform to the H-2A Program.  Timely passage of these proposed reforms by the Committee of Jurisdiction will stem the flight of U.S. food production to our foreign competition and enhance America's national security.”

GFVGA also applauds the recommendations from the working group and urges Congress to act quickly.  The working group proposals represent an opportunity to bring meaningful change to the H-2A program that will make the program more affordable, streamlined, and sustainable. “We hope that Congress will address these recommendations with same sense of urgency that our growers need in order to remain competitive in the global market. Rule changes and AEWR increases continue to make the program more difficult to use, more expensive, and have put Georgia growers at a decided disadvantage to our foreign competitors. We now have a roadmap to bring relief to U.S. growers and we urge Congress to act now”, said Chris Butts of GFVGA.

Highlights of the proposals include:

Single Portal for Filing H-2A Applications- to develop a new, streamlined H-2A application processing system through the creation of an Internet-based electronic portal.

Allow H-2A Employers to Apply for Staggered Worker Entry-to permit employers applying for H-2A workers to submit staggered date-of-entry applications.

Streamlined Recruiting for H-2A-allow farmers and producers to file job postings on an  electronic registry rather than only filing newspaper print advertisements.

Streamline H-2A Hiring Processes-to permanently waive the in-person interview requirement for returning H-2A workers.

USDA Consultation Requirement-require the Department of Labor to consult with the USDA and allow the USDA to provide written comments prior to publishing a rule or a notice of proposed rulemaking that makes any changes or updates to the H2A program.

Adopt a De Minimis Exemption from the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR)- allow for flexibility in theH-2A wage calculation to provide a de minimis exemption for work performed that is ancillary to the worker’s main contracted job responsibility or responsibilities. A de minimis exemption is defined as not more than 25 percent of a worker’s weekly total hours.

Wage Reform of the H-2A Program- reform the H-2A wage system to reflect real-world wages better, while protecting against sudden wage increases that disrupt employer planning and operations.

Other recommendations included in the report include granting year-round industries access to the H-2A program, establishing an H-2A heat standard, and numerous additional reporting requirements for agencies involved with the program. Stay tuned for additional information as we continue to review the report and work with members of the Georgia delegation to bring about meaningful change to the H-2A program.