"I had never worked with mushrooms before," Luis said, reflecting on his time in Chester County's mushroom industry. "But my family has always worked in agriculture, so I like it. I'm used to hard work."
Luis, a pseudonym, is part of the immigrant workforce in Chester County, Pennsylvania's US$1.1 billion mushroom sector. As a Venezuelan migrant with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) under the 2023 designation, Luis can stay in the U.S. for a limited time due to unsafe conditions in his home country.
In February 2025, TPS for Venezuelans under the 2023 expansion was terminated by President Donald Trump. This decision affects approximately 348,000 Venezuelans, impacting their legal stay and work authorization in the U.S. However, those under the 2021 designation can maintain their status until September 10, 2025, leaving long-term status uncertain.
Our research, conducted by rural sociologists from Penn State, examines labor dynamics in agriculture, focusing on the mushroom industry in Pennsylvania, which faces workforce shortages. The termination of TPS and broader immigration policies may reduce available labor in this sector.
The mushroom industry in Pennsylvania has evolved through immigration since the late 19th century. William Swayne initiated mushroom cultivation in Kennett Square, Chester County, in the 1880s. Italian immigrants later established it as the "mushroom capital of the world." Currently, Pennsylvania produces 69% of U.S. mushrooms, with Chester County alone producing 199 million pounds in the 2023-24 season.
Despite its production dominance, the industry struggles with workforce stability due to the demanding nature of mushroom picking and the piece-rate pay system. Immigrant labor, primarily from Mexico, Guatemala, Venezuela, and others, is crucial. Programs like TPS and CHNV (Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans) facilitate this labor flow.
Mushroom farms increasingly rely on labor contractors for recruitment and management. While this offers flexibility for growers, it may reduce job security and benefits for workers. Contractors provide continuity but do not address the need for long-term employees.
Labor shortages could lead to higher mushroom prices due to reduced supply and increased sourcing costs. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021 aims to address these issues by expanding visa eligibility and offering legal protections, but it remains stalled in the Senate. Without policy intervention, the strain on the mushroom industry may continue.
Source: The Conversation