Below is a state-by-state breakdown of major U.S. agricultural employers that hire farm workers, including whether they employ workers from abroad (typically through the H-2A visa program for seasonal labor). Many of these companies rely on foreign workers, especially during peak harvest seasons.

1. California

Key Crops: Fruits (strawberries, grapes, almonds), vegetables, dairy.
Major Employers:

• Driscoll’s (berries) – Uses H-2A workers.
• Grimmway Farms (carrots) – Partners with H-2A labor contractors.
• Wonderful Nurseries (pistachios, almonds) – Hires H-2A workers.
• Taylor Farms (salads, vegetables) – Relies on seasonal foreign labor.
• Sun-Maid Growers (raisins) – Uses H-2A for harvest.

Foreign Workers: California is the largest user of H-2A visas in the U.S., employing tens of thousands of foreign workers annually for crops like berries, grapes, and nuts.

2. Florida

Key Crops: Citrus (oranges, grapefruit), tomatoes, sugarcane.
Major Employers:

• King Ranch (vegetables, citrus) – Uses H-2A workers.
• Coca-Cola Consolidated (citrus groves) – Partners with H-2A contractors.
• Lipman Family Farms (tomatoes) – Relies on foreign seasonal labor.
• Ag Labor Services (labor contractor) – Hires H-2A workers statewide.

Foreign Workers: Florida’s citrus and tomato industries depend heavily on H-2A workers due to labor shortages.

3. Washington

Key Crops: Apples, cherries, hops.
Major Employers:

• Stemilt Growers (apples, pears) – Uses H-2A workers.
• Washington Fruit & Produce Co. (apples) – Hires seasonal foreign labor.
• Hood River Cherry Company – Relies on H-2A for cherry harvests.

Foreign Workers: Washington’s apple industry employs thousands of H-2A workers annually.

4. Texas

Key Crops: Cotton, cattle, vegetables.
Major Employers:

• JBS USA (livestock) – Uses H-2A for feedlots and ranches.
• J&D Produce (onions, melons) – Partners with H-2A contractors.
• J. Garza Produce (vegetables) – Hires seasonal foreign workers.

Foreign Workers: Smaller H-2A presence compared to coastal states, but growing in sectors like cotton and cattle.

5. North Carolina

Key Crops: Tobacco, sweet potatoes, poultry.
Major Employers:

• Butterball LLC (poultry) – Uses H-2A for processing plant support.
• Barnhill Contracting Company (sweet potatoes) – Relies on foreign labor.
• R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company – Partners with H-2A farms.

Foreign Workers: H-2A usage is rising in sweet potato and tobacco farms.

6. Arizona

Key Crops: Lettuce, leafy greens, cotton.
Major Employers:

• Fresh Harvest, Inc. (labor contractor) – Hires H-2A workers for lettuce harvests.
• Bowlero Farms (greens) – Uses foreign seasonal labor.

Foreign Workers: Arizona’s winter vegetable season relies on H-2A workers.

7. Michigan

Key Crops: Cherries, apples, blueberries.
Major Employers:

• Cherry Bay Orchards – Uses H-2A for cherry harvests.
• Harbinger Farms (blueberries) – Relies on seasonal foreign workers.

Foreign Workers: Michigan’s fruit farms increasingly use H-2A labor.

8. Georgia

Key Crops: Peaches, pecans, onions.
Major Employers:

• Southern Valley Farms (vegetables) – Uses H-2A workers.
• Pearson Farm (pecans, peaches) – Partners with H-2A contractors.

Foreign Workers: Georgia’s peach and onion farms face labor shortages, driving H-2A demand.

9. Oregon

Key Crops: Berries, hazelnuts, wine grapes.
Major Employers:

• Norpac Foods (berries, vegetables) – Uses H-2A workers.
• Hazelnut Growers of Oregon – Relies on foreign seasonal labor.

10. New York

Key Crops: Apples, dairy, grapes.
Major Employers:

• Migrant Legal Aid (labor contractors) – Connects H-2A workers to apple farms.
• Chobani (dairy suppliers) – Some farms use foreign labor.

Do These Companies Hire Workers from Abroad?

Yes! Many U.S. farms rely on the H-2A visa program to fill seasonal labor gaps. Employers must prove they cannot find domestic workers first. Key points:

• H-2A Jobs: Planting, harvesting, packing.
• Requirements: Valid passport, employer petition, temporary work permit.
• Top States Using H-2A: CA, FL, WA, NC, GA.

How to Find H-2A Jobs from Abroad

*Farmworker Unions: Contact *United Farm Workers (UFW) for job leads.
4.

U.S. Department of Labor’s Seasonal Jobs Portal: https://seasonaljobs.dol.gov.

*H2A Visa Agents: Agencies like *AgWorks or CIERTO connect workers with U.S. farms.