John Lai
0000-0001-7398-4619

Specialist

FRED profile

Publications

Labor Issues That the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Worker Policy Attempts to Resolve in Florida

Jonathan C. Stephens, John Lai, and Bachir Kassas

Labor is a critical component of a successful agricultural venture. In 2020, the USDA reported that 10.3% of total US employment was in jobs in the agricultural and food sectors. We rely on food, fiber, and natural resources, and effective agricultural labor is a critical social need, but the challenges inherent in the effort to secure agricultural labor are many and difficult to solve. Particularly in Florida, maintaining a labor sufficient to meet the needs of the industry presents a complex problem. Controversies abound over issues like human rights and migrant vs. domestic labor. Today the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Workers Program is providing some compromise and progress within the agricultural labor crisis. The purpose of this publication is to review agricultural labor in Florida and analyze how the H-2A program addresses agricultural labor challenges. The publication will be of interest to consumers, labor activists, producers, corporations, and governments.

thumbnail for publication: Tapping into Florida's Craft Beer Market: A Brewer's Guide to Consumer Purchasing and Consumption Habits in the Sunshine State

Tapping into Florida's Craft Beer Market: A Brewer's Guide to Consumer Purchasing and Consumption Habits in the Sunshine State

Meri Hambaryan, Glory Orivri, Nathan Palardy, John Lai, and Bachir Kassas

Florida’s craft beer industry has undergone explosive growth in the past decade, expanding sixfold from just 66 to 396 breweries, with an estimated economic impact of over $4 billion dollars in 2022. The craft beer sector is primarily small businesses that may lack large domestic breweries' resources and expertise to conduct in-house market research. Trade groups for craft breweries publish market research at the national level but do not often delve into state-specific nuances. This publication provides Florida breweries with data-driven marketing information on Florida beer consumers' purchase frequency, monthly beer expenditure, and preferred places to buy and drink beer. It includes a bulleted list of key consumer insights for craft breweries.

Tapping into Florida’s Craft Beer Market, Part 2: Preferences for Local Ingredients and Sustainability Labels

Meri Hambaryan, Glory Orivri, Candace Lantz, Nathan Palardy, John Lai, and Bachir Kassas

Rising consumer interest in locally sourced, sustainably produced products presents an opportunity for breweries to stand out in an increasingly competitive market, as well as for local growers to supply the ingredients for which consumers are willing to pay extra. This publication, the second in a series that seeks to provide Florida breweries with state-specific, data-driven marketing information to help grow their consumer base, explores Florida consumers’ preferences and the premiums that Florida consumers are willing to pay for beer made with local ingredients and sustainability certification. Authors examine how premiums vary across Florida’s largest metro areas: Miami, Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville. This information can inform growers of potential market opportunities and brewers of product differentiation strategies. Includes a list of key insights for breweries, growers, and Extension agents.