Exploitation in the

Berry Industry

A Report
Table of Contents
Abstract 3

Migrant Workers in Agriculture 3

Working Conditions 4

Environmental Conditions 4

Trafficking and Forced Labor 5

Solutions 6
Legislation 7
Safe Working Conditions 7
Increase Transparency 7
Mandate Audits 7

Conclusion 7

References 8

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Abstract
It is not unusual for the agriculture industry to utilize migrant workers, and berry
farming is no exception. However, many of these migrant farmers are subject to
harsh working conditions and low wages. Many berry farming companies violate
labor laws, and it’s time for this to change. This paper will take a closer look at the
exploitation that occurs on berry farms, the different problems that migrant
workers face on these farms, and how we can work together to solve them.

Migrant workers in agriculture

Migrant workers play a huge role in the American agriculture industry. In 2019,
48.9% of all agricultural workers in the United States were foreign-born and
27.3% were undocumented (New American Economy). Under American law,
temporary farmworkers must obtain an H-2A visa in order to legally work in

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the United States. Migrant workers can obtain an H-2A visa through a
contract with a farm. Under this contract, the worker is tied to this farm, and
cannot seek out another employer without losing their visa (Contexts). This
means that many migrant workers suffer through unjust labor practices in
order to keep their job.

Working conditions
Working on a farm is physically demanding, but many migrant workers are
subject to harsher working conditions on farms. Migrant workers on farms can
experience crush injuries, repetitive motions that cause muscle strain, and
falls (Annual Reviews). While there are industry regulations in place to protect
workers, these safety standards are not always followed. Many migrant
workers are not required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE),
putting them at risk of injuries on the job. Additionally, safety instruction and
training may be unaccounted for due to language barriers.

Environmental conditions
While working on a berry farm, migrant workers may be subject to exposure
to hazardous chemicals and pesticides. In the United States, 10,000-20,000
pesticide-related injuries are treated every year (Annual Reviews). Exposure to
pesticides is linked to cancer, reproductive disorders, and respiratory illnesses.
Due to constant pesticide exposure on a typical berry farm, migrant workers
are at a higher risk of developing these conditions.

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In addition to pesticide exposure, migrant workers on berry farms may
develop illnesses due to environmental exposures. Because the migrant
workers are outside all day, they are exposed to extreme temperatures and
sun exposure. Farmworkers are four times more likely to experience heat-
related illnesses than workers in other industries. Additionally, the agriculture
industry has a mortality rate from heat illness that is 20 times of all other
industries (Annual Reviews).

Trafficking and Forced Labor

Many migrant workers with H-2A visas can be subject to forced labor, as
employers are able to withhold wages and important documents. In 2021, the
United States Justice Department announced 24 indictments in which farms
in south Georgia trafficked migrant workers, who were forced to work against
their will. Workers on the farms lived in unsanitary conditions and were paid
twenty cents per bucket of produce they harvested (United States Attorney’s
Office). These trafficked workers were even forced to work on a blueberry
farm owned by Georgia state senator Russ Goodman (USA Today). These
migrant workers were also abused under the H-2A visa program.

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Solutions
Migrant workers deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. There are
several solutions that can be implemented by lawmakers and employers to
protect our farmworkers.

Legislation
Different legislation can be passed to ensure the protection of migrant
workers on berry farms. The United States government can implement laws to
ensure that workers are paid fairly and that exposure to hazardous working
conditions is limited. Additionally, laws can be passed in order to eliminate
predatory practices, such as wage theft and document holding under the H-
2A visa.

Safe Working Conditions

One way to prevent hazards on berry farms is to mandate safety training.
Safety training will ensure that all farmworkers have the knowledge and skills
to prevent injuries while working on farms. Many migrant workers come from
Latin America and speak Spanish. Providing safety training in Spanish ensures
that all migrant workers understand the safety precautions that need to be
implemented on berry farms.
Another way that farms can prevent hazards is by providing personal
protective equipment (PPE) for migrant workers. Providing PPE for all
farmworkers means that farmworkers will not have to pay out-of-pocket

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expenses for PPE. Paying out-of-pocket for PPE may deter a farmworker from
purchasing PPE.

Increase transparency
In order to ensure that consumers are aware of possible exploitation in the
berry farming industry, berry companies should be transparent about their
labor practices. It should become an industry standard for every berry farm to
make a semi-annual report of their labor practices. This practice will hold berry
farms accountable for their labor practices.

Mandate Audits
The United States Department of Agriculture should implement an audit
program of all berry farms that employ migrant workers with H-2A visas.
Through an audit program, the Department of Agriculture can investigate all
unethical practices that take place on berry farms. The program will also
protect migrant workers by making sure that employers are not taking
advantage of migrant workers and providing safe working conditions.

Conclusion
Exploitative practices on berry farms are unjust and need to be addressed
immediately. Through the solutions proposed in this report, we can work to
end the exploitation of migrant workers in the berry farming industry. Migrant
workers deserve to be treated fairly and with respect.

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References
1. Smolski, Andrew R. "stemming the exploitation of immigrant farm labor." Contexts, 4 July 2019,
contexts.org/articles/stemming-the-exploitation-of-immigrant-farm-labor/.
New American Economy. "Immigration and Agriculture." New American Economy,
research.newamericaneconomy.org/report/immigration-and-agriculture/.

2. Moyce, Sally C., and Marc Schenker. "Migrant Workers and Their Occupational Health and
Safety."
Annual Reviews, 24 Jan. 2018, www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/
annurev-publhealth-040617-013714.

3. Perez, Maria, et al. "Georgia state senator relied on farm contractors involved in major human
trafficking case." USA Today, 2 Nov. 2022, www.usatoday.com/in-
depth/news/investigations/2022/11/02/georgia-senator-russ-goodman-farm-labor-contractors-
linked-trafficking-case/10554562002/.

4. U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Georgia. "Human smuggling, forced labor among
allegations in south Georgia federal indictment." United States Attorney's Office, 22 Nov.2022,
www.justice.gov/usao-sdga/pr/human-smuggling-forced-labor-among-allegations-south-
georgia-federal-indictment.