A recent investigation of the Adkin Blue Ribbon Blueberry Co. in Michigan has led Wal-Mart, Kroger, and Meijer to stop doing business with them until further notice. The investigation produced the finding of children working in the producers field who were as young as six years old. The law states that children must be 12 years old to work on a farm with a parent or with a parent's permission. When Adkin heard of this accusation, their response was basically that they do not allow children under age (by law) work for them and that they do not know why the children were there.
The investigation occured when the U.S. Department of Labor conducted 35 random searches of farms. Many farms were fined and/or cited but Adkin was the only farm that was fined for migrant-housing and child-labor law violations. It was also found that the farm had migrant workers living in unlicensed migrant labor camps with sewage from a faulty septic system.
I am not sure exactly how to feel about all of this. I have worked on a farm since I can remember since my grandfather owns one. I do not think the original article gives enough information. The investigators should have done more research to see about things like who the children were, if their parents worked on the farm too, if they were just playing around and helping their parents or really working for the company, etc. As far as the sewage in the migrant housing goes, that was wrong. No one should have to live like that. Overall though, I just feel kind of torn. I do not know if I should be mad or outraged. If these children are in fact those of some workers who work for the farm, it is not that big of a deal. They may not have had anywhere else to take them but to work with them.In this case,m at least the children were not left alone at home. I guess more information is needed before I can feel any certain way.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article
/ALeqM5gvZB0ORRpV8ZlQf4BG9UzB6aE7QQD9BLMFPO0
kaycey cook
1:30 am
11-6-09
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