Food prices center of immigration issue, Vilsack says

There is perhaps no issue more politically toxic to mention right now than immigration, and perhaps none that so directly affects the very food on people's tables.

That's also the key to unraveling how immigration could be reformed, said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack during Friday's visit to Tampa.

"You've got folks out there fanning the flames on immigration," Vilsack told a small gathering of agriculture officials at the University of South Florida campus. However, the issue needs to be brought down to "people's kitchen table."

Whether Vilsack's views foreshadow how the administration hopes to handle immigration remains to be seen. Vilsack implored farmers and agribusiness officials to frame the debate as just three stark options for everyday Americans upset about immigration.

One, start paying much higher prices for food at the grocery store and restaurants, because labor prices will rise if anyone could even feasibly deport millions of workers. Two, import the bulk of food from other countries, and run the risk of food safety problems and invasive species. Or three, his preference, build comprehensive immigration reform.

A long list of steps would be required: A better job securing immigrant background checks at U.S. borders, a financial penalty that recognizes illegal immigrants did break the law, a realization that people must start paying taxes, and a resolution that "they must go to the back of the line," Vilsack said, behind those already trying to immigrate legally.

Those arguments seemed to resonate.

"We desperately need comprehensive immigration reform," said Michael Stuart, president of the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association. For a time, he said, the recession helped keep labor prices low as laid-off people took jobs in agriculture. However, those ranks are thinning as the economy improves.

Wade Grigsby, president of the Florida Cattlemen's Association, put it this way: "Our rural areas are being inundated. We need the labor, I understand that, but the first thing we need to do is secure the border, and then work on the labor side with those that are already here."