The numbers of workers employed on fresh fruit and vegetable farms declined from 2019 to 2021, according to a study conducted by the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) BB #:378962.
The produce industry directly accounted for some 1.2 million American jobs in 2021, 623,000 on farms, the study found. (Figures in this article have been rounded.)
The fresh fruit industry accounted for some 300,000 jobs, down from 310,000 in 2019.
Next was vegetable and melon farming, at 140,000 workers, down from 143,000 in 2019.
“Farm labor” provided some 128,000 jobs.
Grocers accounted for 320,000 workers, up from 315,000 in 2019.
“California holds the highest concentration of fresh produce and floral employment, representing 35% of the industry employment,” the report added. Employees there numbered around 404,000. Washington and Florida, with 99,000 and 82,000 respectively, are second and third.
These, along with the other two top 5 states (Texas and New York), accounted for some 59 percent of all industry employees.
Apples had the highest average employment for any single commodity, at 33,000 jobs.
As a whole, the survey estimated declining on-farm, wholesale, and foodservice employment, with rising retail employment.
Combining both direct and indirect economic impact, the report concluded that in 2021, the fresh produce industry added 2.2 million full- and part-time jobs, $120.1 billion in labor income, and added $339 billion to the national output.
“The fresh produce and floral industries support more jobs than most sectors of perishables including cattle ranching and farming, dairy manufacturing, and poultry and egg production,” said the study.
