Small farms, big problems: Labor crisis goes ignored in idyllic setting

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Small farms, big problems: Labor crisis goes ignored in idyllic setting

Despite their nostalgic image, the reality of small farms is much more troubling, say workers and advocates
July 29, 2014 5:00AM ET
by Peter Moskowitz

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As Americans have latched onto a particular idea of agriculture as morally ideal – small, often organic-certified farms transporting veggies, humanely raised meats and antibiotic-free dairy short distances to farmers markets and ethically focused grocery stores like Whole Foods, farm workers and activists say a crucial link in the food chain has gone largely ignored by those who may consider themselves conscious consumers: labor.

With the image of the small farms becoming ever more present in the collective conscience of an increasingly food-aware nation, farm laborers and activists say now it’s more important than ever to set the record straight, and highlight the fact that even in the most quaint of settings, labor abuse is still rampant.

In central and western New York, where farm workers are often undocumented and speak limited English, working on farms small enough to avoid the scrutiny of U.S. labor regulators, data is lacking on just how rampant abuses are. But workers and the activists that represent them say that minimum wage violations, verbal abuse, long hours, unsafe working conditions and even physical attacks on workers are commonplace. And they say the problem is growing, especially on small dairy farms as the dairy industry in New York booms thanks to the country’s newfound fondness for Greek-style yogurt ...

More here: http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/7/29/small-farms-labor.html