Feeding America at the Border: Cory Mellon on Farming, Labor, and Food Security

Yuma, Arizona plays a critical role in feeding the United States, supplying much of the nation’s leafy greens during the winter months. But farming at the border comes with unique challenges. In this episode of American Potential , host David From sits down with Cory Mellon, Chief Operating Officer of his family’s farm, to discuss the realities of agriculture in a border community. Cory explains how the H-2A visa program supports legal farm labor, why generational workers are essential to the industry, and what happens when that system breaks down. Cory also shares firsthand insight into the economic impact of nonworkers moving through active fields, the food-safety risks farmers face when fields are disrupted, and how a federal government shutdown delayed worker processing—threatening the harvest during a critical picking season. This conversation highlights the connection between secure borders, legal labor, and America’s food supply, and why getting immigration policy right matters far beyond the border.