Minnesota Agencies

The committee was originally tasked with responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by coordinating resources and outreach for the 2021 growing, harvesting, and processing season. By December 1, 2021, the committee was required to provide recommendations for state policy and legislative changes to relevant state agencies, to be considered for communication to the Governor’s Office for inclusion in budget and policy proposals.

In 2024, Gov. Walz issued another executive order, continuing the work of this committee and changing their objectives. The committee's new objectives are to: design a proactive strategy and plan to effectively deploy public, private, and non-profit compliance resources to protect and promote the safety, health, and wellbeing of agricultural and food processing workers; develop a system for effective communication between state agencies, community organizations, advocacy groups, and agricultural and food processing employers and workers, including the workers’ families and communities; and provide government agencies, community organizations, advocacy groups, employer and worker organizations, employers, and workers a forum to engage, collect and analyze data and information, coordinate resources, and plan for future agricultural growing, food production, and processing seasons.

Governor Tim Walz described the impetus for starting this committee in a press release in 2021: “Agriculture and food processing are foundational to Minnesota’s economy, and yet, workers in these industries face immense challenges, particularly regarding workplace safety, employment protections, and access to safe housing, health care, and transportation. We all share responsibility for addressing these challenges, and I am grateful to the leaders from across the state who stepped up to serve on this committee.” The committee will meet at least twice per month and more often as necessary.

In 2024, Gov. Walz issued another executive order, changing the duties and membership of the committee. The committee is required to meet at least four times per year.

As of 2024, the members of the committee are:

• The Commissioners of the following agencies or their designees:
  • Department of Agriculture
  • Department of Employment and Economic Development
  • Department of Health
  • Department of Labor and Industry
  • Minnesota Housing Finance Agency
  • Department of Education
• United Food and Commercial Workers Local 663, Director of Organizing or their designee
• Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, AWP Project Manager or their designee
• Unidos MN, Executive Director or their designee
• HACER, Executive Director or their designee
• Minnesota Farm Bureau, President or their designee
• Minnesota Farmers Union, President or their designee