The Gulf Citrus Growers Association held its annual industry banquet in Fort Myers Wednesday.

The event’s keynote speaker was Rep. Mario Diaz Balart, R-Florida, who has been a key lawmaker working to get immigration reform passed in the House.

According to a report from the White House released last month, 59 percent of Florida’s multi-billion-dollar agriculture industry relies on workers who are not citizens.

Diaz Balart said the problem isn’t that growers want to hire undocumented workers. He said immigration laws are to blame.

“Look at the agriculture industry around the country and including in Florida,” Diaz Balart said. “Look at the process to legally come into the United States to do those jobs that are very difficult but that must be done. The legal system isn’t working. It doesn’t work. It doesn’t work the growers it doesn’t work for the workers.”

Diaz Balart said he is still hopeful House members will pass immigration reform this year.

The congressman, whose district includes Collier and Miami Dade Counties, has been a key figure in the fight to pass comprehensive reform—much like what passed with bipartisan support in the Senate.

However, House leadership has committed to passing individual immigration bills one-by-one, which some have said could hurt the chances of actual reform making it to the president’s desk this year.