I Am Protesting

I'm sorry people. This is a really long post. And if you refuse to read it, I don't blame you. But I hope that some will care enough to read at least a little bit. Learn a little. There's not much we can do about what follows, except look for fair trade products. But just being aware may be enough. I don't know.

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Oct. 31/16
10:52 pm

ejk

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rottenrobi · 56-60, F

But that's not all true. I was what they refer to as an indentured worker. I picked peaches in the fields, and this was 30 years ago. I was paid a decent hourly rate, and was then paid time and a half, and double time according to what we worked. Yes, Florida has taken a bit longer to organize, but they are not kept to the standards this article implies. Perhaps in the 70's and 80's, but not today. I've always said, if it weren't for the immigrants who come here and pick our produce, we most likely wouldn't have any to eat at all. This kind of labor is the most difficult work I've ever done. I would be the first to applaud this article if it were true. Strawberries and tomatoes are back breaking labor, absolutely, but they are not slaves. I have no idea about any other food listed here. But reading the gross discrepancy of the facts for the produce, I would assume the others were the same.
I love when people post something like this. I appreciate and search out healthy and organic food, but i'm sorry to say I don't agree with this at all.

Serenitree · F

I only do the searching. I don't make it up. I'm not trying to force anyone to believe anything. Thanks for taking time to read it.

Nov. 1/16
2:59 am

Trysta09 · 46-50, F

@rottenrobi: I agree that at least some of what is written is intended to be inflammatory, but I would be surprised if more than a few points were outright lies.

I've never worked at one of these places but I do know that the major agribusinesses have changed the way a LOT of things are done, relative to 30 years ago. These large corporations demand that federal laws be written in their favor, farming practices be done their way, then take a huge cut of the profits (as so do the grocery stores), leaving less and less for the actual farmers. It makes it hard for them to pay decent wages. Thirty years ago, farmers got a much bigger piece of the pie. Now they're not far from being slave labor themselves.

And with our governments at state level doing everything they can to prevent workers from uniting and making laws against whistle-blowing (and the governments of other countries looking the other way after being handed a few green pieces of paper), I suspect today's workers have it a lot worse than you did.

UmbrellaTerminator

I don't like any of those except for seafood. And sugar, I guess, since it's in everything. I'm only 1/5 evil.

Serenitree · F

👍🏻

SW-User

Spoiledbrat · F

How come more people don't report the employers?

Serenitree · F

I don't know. I am not a reporter. I'm just googling to learn what I can. It's a lot easier to just disbelieve. But I find it hard to do so.

Nov. 1/16
3:05 am

Trysta09 · 46-50, F

Reporting does no good. Most of the large factory farms are owned, or are part of the family of, major agribusiness corporations. These companies pay a lot of money for the USDA and FDA inspectors to be kept to such a low number that they have absolutely no chance of ever keeping up with even 1% all of the issues that arise from these places--from slavery, to using dangerous pesticides, to animal abuse, to noxious ingredients, to just flat-out lying about their products.

So our government lets them do things they way they want and to hell with the workers or we citizens who want fairly traded, sustainably raised, chemical free food. Just so they can line their pockets.

Also, when the employees are illegal immigrants, they don't report because they're afraid they'll be deported when the employer finds out they've caused trouble.

yllacsar · 51-55, M

get a job....buy decent food....

Serenitree · F

Yes sir. I'll get right on that.

yllacsar · 51-55, M

Gotta eat or you'll die.....why fuck around ??

Serenitree · F

@llacsar: where did you get the idea I don't eat? As for the job, I retired at the age of 69 after 53 years of working to feed my kids. Now I'm living on my pension, but I still manage to feed myself.

Nov. 1/16
3:09 am

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