Mushroom farms in Pennsylvania are struggling with labor shortages, and new immigration policies may make it even worse. According to The Conversation magazine, the industry relies heavily on immigrant workers, but many may lose their legal status. This puts pressure on a $1.1 billion industry that supplies most of the mushrooms in the U.S.
“I had never worked with mushrooms before,” Luis said, recalling his experience in Chester County. “But my family has always worked in agriculture, so I like it. I’m used to hard work.”
Luis, whose name has been changed to protect his identity, is among the many immigrant workers keeping Pennsylvania’s mushroom industry running. He came from Venezuela and was granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) under the 2023 designation, which allowed him to stay in the U.S. legally for a limited period.
In February 2025, President Donald Trump terminated TPS for Venezuelans under the 2023 expansion, impacting around 348,000 people who had been eligible for work permits. Those with the earlier 2021 TPS designation can stay until September 10, 2025.
Researchers from Penn State studying labor, migration, and agriculture note that the mushroom industry already struggled with workforce shortages. The recent immigration policy changes are expected to shrink the labor pool further, affecting not only mushroom farming but also other agricultural and food industries.
Lawmakers introduce bipartisan bill to protect mushroom farmers
Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, often called the “Mushroom Capital of the World,” has a long history of relying on immigrant workers. The industry began in the 1880s when Quaker florist William Swayne introduced mushroom cultivation to the area. In the early 20th century, Italian immigrants expanded the business, and today, Pennsylvania produces 69% of all mushrooms sold in the U.S.
Chester County alone grew 199 million pounds of mushrooms in the 2023-24 season, mostly white button mushrooms. Farms also extend into nearby Berks County and parts of Northeastern Maryland. Despite its size, the industry has faced ongoing labor challenges for decades.
Most pickers are paid under a piece-rate system, where wages depend on how fast and efficiently they harvest. While this allows some workers to earn more, it also creates uncertainty, as income varies based on harvest conditions and market prices.
As a result, Pennsylvania’s mushroom farms are heavily dependent on immigrant labor. Although there are no official national statistics on the origins of workers, research suggests that most today come from Mexico and Guatemala, with increasing numbers from Venezuela and other countries. Some workers enter the U.S. through programs like TPS and the CHNV process, which grants temporary work authorization for people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela who meet certain conditions.
However, the traditional Mexican workforce is aging. While some of their U.S.-born children work in harvesting as teenagers, many do not remain in agriculture long term.
Lawmakers introduce bipartisan bill to protect mushroom farmers
To cope with labor shortages, more mushroom farms now rely on labor contractors to hire and manage workers. These contractors handle payroll, workers’ compensation, and medical care if employees get injured. For farm owners, this system reduces administrative work and liability, while allowing them to adjust the workforce based on demand.
For workers, however, labor contracting has mixed effects. In many industries, employees hired through contractors have less job security, fewer benefits, and less direct contact with farm owners, making it harder to negotiate wages or report workplace concerns.
Some farmworkers in Kennett Square see contracting as a way to stay employed. One worker shared, “I had to miss work for some weeks because my kid was sick, and I lost my spot. But then I reached out to a contractor and was able to get another job at a different farm within a day.” However, they also noted that working conditions vary, saying, “This new farm has wider harvesting beds, and I am getting more tired and have more pain because of it.”
For growers, labor contractors help keep farms running, but they don’t solve the long-term workforce problem.
With fewer workers, mushroom farms may struggle to meet demand, leading to higher prices for consumers. If retailers turn to suppliers in other states or import mushrooms from abroad, costs could increase even further due to transportation fees, tariffs, and supply chain issues.
The Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021 aimed to address these labor shortages. It proposed creating a Certified Agricultural Worker status to give legal protections to experienced farmworkers and expanding H-2A visas to cover year-round jobs like mushroom harvesting. However, the bill stalled in the Senate.
Without new policies, Pennsylvania’s mushroom industry will struggle, and the impact will likely extend across the agricultural sector.
Source: The Conversation.
