Sun Valley Orchards labor dispute
Definition
A high-profile legal conflict between Sun Valley Orchards, LLC, a New Jersey-based fruit farm specializing in blueberries and other produce, and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The dispute centers on alleged violations of the H-2A temporary foreign agricultural worker program during the 2015 season, including inadequate housing, transportation, meal provisions, and improper worker terminations, resulting in DOL-assessed back wages and penalties that Sun Valley challenged in court.
The case escalated through federal courts, with the Third Circuit ruling in favor of Sun Valley's right to an Article III judicial review, and as of 2026, it reached the U.S. Supreme Court under Department of Labor v. Sun Valley Orchards, LLC (Docket No. 25-966), addressing agency adjudication powers versus judicial oversight in employment disputes.
Examples
The Sun Valley Orchards labor dispute has farmers and bureaucrats picking sides faster than migrant workers harvest blueberries.
Just when Sun Valley thought their crop was ripe for profit, the labor dispute turned it into a bushel of legal headaches.
In the Sun Valley Orchards labor dispute, even the Supreme Court couldn't resist getting to the juicy core of H-2A violations.
Sun Valley Orchards labor dispute: proof that when it comes to worker housing, DOL doesn't apple-ogize for subpar conditions.