NC State Extension Publications

 

The H-2A visa program is growing rapidly in North Carolina. The number of positions certified in the last five years has steadily increased (Figure 1). The top employer of H-2A workers in the state (and the country) is the North Carolina Grower’s Association, which certified more than 10,000 positions in 2020 (Table 1). While most of the employers certifying H-2A positions are based in North Carolina, others are located in neighboring states like Florida. The H-2A program is widely used across the state. The highest number of positions certified in 2020 was for workers in Moore County (over 10,500) (Table 2).

Note: For more information on the H-2A visa program check the NC State Economist article The H-2A Visa Program: Addressing Farm Labor Scarcity in North Carolina.

Graph of H-2A positions certified in NC 2016-2021

Figure 1. Number of H-2A Positions Certified in North Carolina: 2016-2021

 


Table 1. Top 10 Employers of H-2A Workers in North Carolina in 2020

Employer

Positions Certified

Location of Employer

North Carolina Grower's Association, Inc.

10,650

North Carolina

Florida Orange Gold, LLC

678

Florida

Sleepy Creek Farms, Inc.

581

North Carolina

Jose M. Gracia Harvesting, Inc.

546

Florida

O'Rea and Sons Harvesting and Hauling, Inc.

332

North Carolina

Overlook Harvesting Company, LLC

315

Florida

AAA Faria, LLC

305

North Carolina

Lewis Nursery and Farms, Inc.

304

North Carolina

Salomon Gomez Garcia

261

North Carolina

Manzana, LLC

259

North Carolina


Table 2. Top 10 Counties by Worksite Location of H-2A Positions in North Carolina in 2020

County

Positions

Moore

10,562

Sampson

2,309

Bladen

1,090

Pender

1,018

Johnston

919

Edgecombe

716

Duplin

658

Greene

593

Wilson

592

Wayne

462


Map of top 10 NC counties by worksite location of H-2A positions

Figure 2. Map of the Top 10 Counties by Worksite Location of H-2A Positions in North Carolina in 2020

 

Sources

H-2A Fiscal Year 2020 Performance data. (2021). Office of Foreign Labor Certification. US Department of Labor.

H-2A Temporary Agricultural Program. Selected Statistics, Multiple Years. (2021). Employment and Training Administration. Office of Foreign Labor Certification. US Department of Labor.

Author

Assistant Professor and Extension Economist
Agricultural & Resource Economics

Publication date: July 6, 2021

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