b'Promoting Agriculture: U.S. Secretary Sonny Perduewe didnt get all the improvementsGeorgias fruit and vegetable growers we wanted for seasonal fruits andconcerns with the USMCA.vegetables. While we were hopeful we could make progress in the renewedContinuing to promote the Georgia Grown NAFTA, USMCA isnt a step backward. brand as a top priority, Black says, We are working to educate the consumers, and I He says the UGA report assumedbelieve they will respond when properly the U.S. lost ground, but the factspresented. I think there needs to be an are it wasnt ground we had to beginawakening of the American conscious to with. Since the inception of NAFTAknow where food comes from and how more than 20 years ago, agriculturaltheir money supports our farmers.In 2010, there were 1.8 million poundstrade between our three countries of blueberries imported to the U.S. fromhas boomed. U.S. exports to Canada Mexico, says Goodman, who farmsand Mexico increased by 300 percent, approximately 500 acres of blueberriesand our imports increased by almost in South Georgia. Last year, that jumped500 percent, benefiting producersGeorgia Grown: Gary W. Black, Georgia to 63 million pounds. and consumers on both sides of ourAgriculture Commissionerborders.Domestic versus foreign labor disparity and availability continues to presentGeorgia Agriculture Commissioner significant challenges for South GeorgiaGary W. Black says issues surrounding farmers. security, food safety, and environmental and labor standards must be reviewed. You ask any grower, and they will tellWe have loads of produce coming you that labor cost is a big issue, saysacross the border every day, and the Hall. Its not only the wages but havingU.S. can only check a minimal number workers available.of trucks. It is a regular occurrence to The majority of farms hire seasonalfind them with millions of dollars in workers through the U.S. Departmentillegal substance.of Labor H-2A program, which sets a minimum wage standard for each state.According to Black, the next step On average, H-2A guidelines require U.S.involves enforcing the regulations farmers to pay seasonal farmworkers $14outlined in the USMCA. We spoke out an hour, a sharp contrast to the $10 to $12firmly against USMCA for our seasonal per day salary they receive in Mexico. producers. Now, we have to make sure restrictions in the agreement are Next Steps enforced to the fullest extent.In response to the UGA report, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue wrote inBlack says recent hearings with federal GEORGIA GROWNan op-ed piece, Its important to noteagencies, including the USDA, represent a positive direction in addressing We are working to educate the consumers, and I believe they will respond when properly presented. I think there needs to be an awakening of the American conscious to know where food comes from and how their money supports our farmers.- GARY BLACK32 SG MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2020'