US producers fear the government’s clamp-down on immigration could result in huge labour shortages that would severely compromise the industry.
After the terrorist attacks in 2001 most of the workers at one tomato-producing company were found to be illegal immigrants and fired, resulting in $2.5 million (£1.31m) in wasted fruit.
Luawanna Hallstrom, general manager of the California-based company, Harry Singh & Sons, warned other farmers could suffer the same fate if the US government sanctions an enforcement-only bill.
Hallstrom, who co-chairs the National Council of Agricultural Employers, said: “You can't farm and you can't grow food without a workforce. There is no way that our industry would survive. We would cease to exist.”
Numerous farmers across the US say their businesses cannot cope with losing illegal immigrants if no foreign workers are brought in to replace them.
Farmers in Florida say production of tomatoes and Valencia oranges is already being held up by labour shortages.
Fran Becker, vice president of procurement for Peace River Citrus Products in Arcadia, Florida, said his company was heavily reliant on illegal workers and had struggled to retain pickers during the June harvest.
“Let's face it. There is absolutely no one that I know in this country who wants to pick oranges,” he said.
Under the new law, companies would have to check an electronic database to determine if their employees are legally permitted to work in the US.
Employees found abusing the regulation could be sentenced or be fined as much as $20,000 (£10,480) per worker.
Critics say the farming sectors are just looking to keep their labour as cheap as possible. But one immigration specialist said the introduction of tougher border enforcement procedures in recent months has already encouraged farmers to move to Mexico, which could ultimately have serious consequences for the US economy, as well as the produce industry.
