When Sweat Meets Blueberries...

by Melissa Byrne · 2009-07-20 14:21:00 UTC
Topics:
Blueberries
"

As I was getting ready to write my second post on buying local, I came across this disturbing article on the possible exploitation of blueberry workers in my own backyard. Well, not exactly my backyard, but definitely within the 150 miles radius on my home, my own local food supple. Sadly, while we are in the midst of a delicious blueberry season, it seems that the men who harvest those yummy berries in Hammonton, NJ might be treated with the dignity they deserve.
The Philadelphia Daily News writes, "According to the complaint against Blu-Jay Farms and Macrie Bros. Farms, filed in federal court in Camden, 27 Haitian workers from Florida had been "enticed" to New Jersey by a recruiter. Once in New Jersey, the workers say, they were not paid the rates promised, were transported in "old, overcrowded buses" and were forced to live in labor camps that were "dilapidated and bug-infested."
Fortunatly, for these workers, CATA ( The Farm Workers Support Committee) is a strong South Jersey/Philadelphia based organization with the resources to organize and advocate with the migrant laborers who care for and harvest our local foods. Their works reminds of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers who are organizers both workers and consumers in South Florida who pick the tomatoes then end up on a lot of our plates and in our fast food meals. While they don't out right address the issues of sustainable food, it seems relevant to consider the plight of laborers currently employed in our food production.
I am interested in learning your thoughts? How do the rights of migrant laborers fit into the conversation on sustainable foods?

Melissa Byrne
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