JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It’s been almost a year since Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a new immigration law that leaders say pushed thousands of farmworkers out of the state and may be causing produce prices to increase.
People like Mary Green are feeling the high prices at the grocery store. She described the prices as “ridiculous.”
“Meat’s been more expensive,” Green said.
Green said she’s also noticed higher prices in the produce section.
Things like bell peppers, blueberries, mushrooms, and citrus have been more expensive. While some of that is because of inflation, a lot of those price increases could also tie back to the recent anti-immigration law.
“We’re seeing that these American-owned businesses are having trouble keeping staff because so many people are leaving, which is causing their prices to go up, which is causing their customers to be unhappy,” Florida Immigration Attorney Elizabeth Ricci said. “So it’s definitely having that ripple effect.”
The Florida Policy Institute estimates the SB1718 immigration law could cost the state’s economy $12.6 billion in its first year.
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The law that’s been called the strongest “anti-illegal immigration legislation in the country” cracks down on undocumented labor.
Ricci explained it also enforces penalties for businesses that hire undocumented workers, which has forced many farmworkers out of the state.
“So we’re seeing blueberries, mushrooms, tomatoes, crops that are typically grown in Florida, and harvested by immigrant workers, keeping in mind, about 42% of Florida’s agricultural workers are undocumented. So when those workers leave the state, then there are fewer workers to harvest those crops, which is going to make those prices increase,” Ricci said.
According to a new USDA report this week, lemons are almost 50% more expensive than they were last year. Limes have also seen a small price increase, as well as blueberries, strawberries and oranges.
“The advantage of hiring undocumented workers, as so many unfortunately do, is that they drive prices, they drive wages down by not paying what an American worker would require. But the irony is American workers don’t want these jobs, because they’re out in the heat all day,” Ricci said.
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Ricci said if lawmakers don’t reform the law, then labor shortages and grocery store prices will get worse.
“We have to have that— kind of reform, to be able to have workers to harvest the produce that we enjoy here in Florida, at a reasonable price without those traditional products becoming luxury goods,” Ricci said. “And without that kind of meaningful reform. We’re going to continue to pay more and have to register for things that we used to enjoy just as cheap snacks.”
Parts of the new anti-immigration law have already been struck down as unconstitutional.
Under the law, businesses are still free to hire immigrants, as long as it’s done legally by obtaining work permits.
In 2023, Florida hired thousands more H-2A guest workers than the year before but many farmers have been affected by the costs of the applications.