Source: NORTH CAROLINA GROWER'S ASSOCIATION, 4/30/12
North Carolina Growers’ Association
Statement regarding the April 18, 2012
Exploratory Meeting on Farm Labor Practices in the U.S. Supply Chain
Lee Wicker, the NC Growers' Association representative who participated in the exploratory meeting in Raleigh, NC stated, "The 750 farmers and over 12,000 seasonal farmworkers of NCGA who work together to grow a diversified portfolio of labor intensive specialty crops in NC are excited about the opportunity to participate in an important discussion with a broad group of government, religious, worker advocacy, industry, and farmer representatives that share a common interest in farm labor practices.
The farmers and farmworkers of NCGA are eager to offer their shared experiences and ideas from working together for more than 20 years to implement and refine best practices to insure compliance with agricultural labor laws, worker protection, health and safety regulations, especially in an environment of ever increasing government regulation and enforcement, corporate and market accountability demands, and greater consumer awareness.
NCGA is strongly committed to actively contributing in the constructive dialogue with government regulators, worker advocates, and other interested stakeholders to develop user friendly education and training materials for farmers and farmworkers that promote the vital partnership of shared responsibilities and further enhance the culture of compliance on the farm.
It is clear farmers and farmworkers strive to comply with the law and NCGA recognizes the collaborative work of this group of committed leaders from public, private, and government organizations can make a positive difference in the lives of the men, women and farming families who are working hard to contribute to their communities in a socially responsible way while simultaneously sustaining the lives of consumers around the globe who benefit from and enjoy the fruits of their purposeful work every day."
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