IRVINE, Calif. – Last week at its summer meeting of the board of directors, Western Growers voted to endorse the candidacy of the presumptive Republican presidential nominee Gov. Mitt Romney.
“There are several very clear reasons why we have endorsed Governor Romney,” said Tom Nassif, Western Growers President and CEO. “These include his support of individual rights, less regulatory red tape and more balanced enforcement of government regulations and relief from the income, estate and capital gains tax burden that threatens successful, hard-working people and businesses.
“These principles will lead to job creation and economic growth. He has also demonstrated that he can listen. Early in his campaign he took a very conservative approach to immigration reform. He has since reached out to the agriculture community and come to understand our critical need for a dependable and legal workforce. The continued existence of a secure supply of domestically-produced fruits, vegetables and tree nuts depends upon a practical agriculture worker program. Governor Romney also knows that farmers require less federal regulation not more, and holds entrepreneurship and private enterprise in high regard, just as we do. We support these beliefs and commitments and support Mitt Romney for President of the United States.”
As president, Romney states on his website, that he will make the system for bringing in temporary agricultural workers and other seasonal workers functional for both employers and immigrants. He said he will work with Congress, states, and employers to properly set the cap on non-agricultural temporary worker visas.
“We should get rid of unnecessary requirements that delay issuance of a visa, and we should speed the processing of applications,” Romney said.
Romney, the former Governor of Massachusetts, will officially become his party’s presidential nominee when the GOP convenes in Tampa, Fla. August 27 – 30. He served as Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and is the former CEO of the consulting firm Bain & Company, founder of the investment firm Bain Capital and was the CEO of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the 2002 Olympic and Paralympics Games. He also ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008.
About Western Growers:
Since 1926, we have represented local and regional family farmers growing fresh produce in Arizona and California. Our members provide half the nation’s fresh fruits and vegetables including a third of America’s fresh organic produce. Some also farm throughout the U.S. and in other countries so people have year-round access to nutritious food. For generations we have provided variety and healthy choices as the first line of defense against obesity and disease. We grow the best medicine in the world.™
Source: Western Growers
