![Protect our Produce-Michigan’s Produce Industry Is in Trouble — Here’s Why You Should Care<br /><br /><br /><br />Episode 134 of the Discover Montcalm Podcast welcomes Jamie Clover Adams from ProtectOurProduce.com (https://www.protectourproduce.com) , and she’s sounding the alarm: Michigan’s $6 billion fresh produce industry is in real danger.<br /><br /><br /><br />Host and producer Duane Weed dives into this critical conversation with Jamie, who breaks down how outdated federal wage policies are squeezing the life out of local farms. The Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR), a federally mandated wage system for H-2A guestworkers, has skyrocketed over the last decade—up more than 50%! That unpredictability is forcing farmers to make hard decisions, and in many cases, walk away from growing the produce that’s been part of Michigan’s identity for generations.<br /><br />A Crisis in Numbers<br /><br /><br /><br />To put things in perspective, since AEWR took hold, 16,000 acres of fruits and vegetables have been lost in Michigan—that’s about 11,765 football fields. Why? Because labor costs have become unsustainable.<br /><br /><br /> <br /> <br /> • <br /> <br /> <br /> Michigan produce farms: Labor costs = up to 55%<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> • <br /> <br /> <br /> Auto industry: Labor costs = ~7%<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> • <br /> <br /> <br /> Restaurants: Labor costs = ~32%<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><br /><br />Jamie explains that growers simply can’t keep up when they’re competing against lower-priced imports and unpredictable wage hikes.<br /><br />Protect our Produce Real Voices, Real Impact<br /><br /><br /><br />This isn’t just about numbers. It’s about families, legacy, and our food system. In the episode, Jamie shares quotes from Michigan farmers facing heartbreaking choices:<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />“We have not replanted asparagus on our farm for three years now… Labor has created an issue whether we’re going to continue down this road.”<br />— Bill Schwass, Springdale Farms, Scottville, MI<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />“As a father… you really struggle if it’s sustainable long term for [your kids].”<br />— Mike Wittenbach, Wittenbach Orchards, Belding, MI<br /><br /><br />What’s at Stake for Michigan?<br /><br /><br /><br />This isn’t just a farming issue — it’s an economic and community issue. Michigan’s fruit and vegetable industry supports 40,000 jobs and provides over $350 million in annual payrolls. That means real money going back into our local communities.<br /><br />Protect our Produce – How You Can Help<br /><br /><br /><br />Want to make a difference?<br /><br /><br /> <br /> <br /> • <br /> <br /> <br /> Shop local and seasonal<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> • <br /> <br /> <br /> Support Michigan-grown fruits and veggies<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> • <br /> <br /> <br /> Join the movement at ProtectOurProduce.com (https://www.protectourproduce.com) <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> • <br /> <br /> <br /> Share the story using #ProtectOurProduce<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><br /><br />Catch the full conversation in Episode 134 of the Discover Montcalm Podcast, and get informed on what’s happening right here in our backyard.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Listen to the episode: Discover Montcalm Podcast (https://discovermontcalmpodcast.com/) <br /><br /><br /><br />Stream Montcalm Vibe: montcalmvibe.com (https://montcalmvibe.com/) <br /><br /><br /><br />Follow Montcalm Vibe on Facebook: Montcalm Vibe (https://www.facebook.com/MontcalmVibe/) <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Hashtags:<br />#ProtectOurProduce #MichiganFarms #SupportLocal #DiscoverMontcalm #FoodSecurity #JamieCloverAdams #FarmCrisis #MontcalmCounty #MichiganAgriculture<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Check out this video!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Follow Discover Montcalm Podcast for more community stories that matter.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Follow us at Discover Montcalm Podcast (https://www.discovermontcalmpodcast.com/) or contact Duane Weed at 231-250-9624 or duane@dwvideo.com to share your Montcalm County story. Together, we can showcase the heart of our community, one story at a time.<br /><br /><br /><br />Check out all our past episodes https://discovermontcalmpodcast.com/category/podcast/.<br /><br /><br /><br />#DiscoverMontcalm #DiscoverMontcalmPodcast #MontcalmCounty<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Michigan’s Produce Industry is in Trouble Episode 134<br /><br /> <br /><br />by Discover Montcalm Podcast<br /><br /> <br />https://discovermontcalmpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Michigans-Produce-Industry-at-Risk-Protect-our-Produce-episode-134.mp3<br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Discover Montcalm Audio Podcast<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Check out the podcast all about Montcalm County Michigan. <br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><br /><br />The post Protect our Produce episode 134 (https://discovermontcalmpodcast.com/protect-our-produce-episode-134/) first appeared on Discover Montcalm Podcast (https://discovermontcalmpodcast.com) .](https://discovermontcalmpodcast.com/wp-content/plugins/youtube-feed-pro/img/placeholder.png)
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