Washington apple growers are hoping not to have the same labor shortage issues this coming harvest season as they did last year, but the possibility is definitely looming. This Thursday from eleven to noon the Washington Farm Labor Association will be hosting a free webinar for WAFLA members on how to submit emergency H-2A applications. WAFLA Assistant Director, Kim Bresler, talks about tomorrow’s webinar.

BRESLER: This actual webinar is going to be labor for the upcoming apple harvest in case there is a labor shortage issue. Basically what this webinar will discuss is we’re just telling you it’s not too late to apply for an emergency H2A guest worker visa program application. There’s two different types of applications and during this webinar we’ll tell you all about it and we’ll tell you the latest possible dates that you can apply, and all about the program and how it can work for you and how you should be prepared.

How do members take advantage of the webinar?

BRESLER: They can register at wafla.org up until the morning of the webinar.

If you’re a first time user of the H-2A program, you can submit applications as late as mid-July under the H-2A emergency application procedures. Remember to preregister, or for more information on the ‘Emergency H-2A Applications How Can You Get It Done?’ webinar visit wafla.org.

I’m Lacy Gray and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Northwest Ag Information Network.