RSS Members Explain Immigration Policy’s Effect on Pennsylvania’s Mushroom Industry
In a recent article published by The Conversation, RSS leaders Hazel Velasco Palacios and Kathleen Sexsmith draw attention to the urgent labor shortage affecting Pennsylvania’s mushroom farms, which produce nearly two-thirds of all mushrooms consumed in the U.S. The shortage, already straining operations, is expected to worsen due to recent changes in immigration policy that restrict access to essential migrant labor.
“Mushroom farms – and the broader agricultural sector – must prepare for the ripple effect of more rigid immigration restrictions. Without Intervention from policy makers, the strain on workers, growers, and consumers is likely to intensify.” — Hazel Velasco Palacios and Kathleen Sexsmith, Penn State University