#wefeedyou — Public Fediverse posts

"Ian" is harvesting figs in Madera County for minimum wage. "Figs are hard to pick because their sap burns your skin. The reaction gets worse in sun. We have to cover up w/thick rubber gloves, long sleeve shirt, safety glasses and a wide brimmed hat and more." #WeFeedYou

Ever wonder how grapes become raisins? Workers cut the grapes & lay them on paper sheets to sun-dry. Then workers like "Joel" walk on the burning sand to roll up these sheets. This is hard grueling work to do one sheet after another. It was 102° in Tulare on this day. #WeFeedYou

"Jesus" has worked in Gonzales, CA for 21 years as an irrigator. "I'm transporting the water tanks on the tractor to the areas where the lettuce plants have already been planted, so they can grow. This is an important responsibility." #WeFeedYou

Harvesting sweet potatoes is complicated. 3 different tractor help prep for the harvest. The 1st tractor picks up the irrigation line. The 2nd cuts off the leafy green part on top & the 3rd tractor digs up the potato and puts it on the conveyor belt to be hand sorted. #WeFeedYou

It was 98° at 11am in Delano CA, when "Casimiro" share this photo from where he was sorting and packing fresh table grapes in the vineyard. #WeFeedYou

27 year old "Francisco" shares, "Right now, the winter strawberry blossom season is beginning. Managing the blossoms properly is what causes strawberries to develop. This is the final season of the year and helps us get by during the cold and rainy months." #WeFeedYou

It was 94° at 10:45 am as an irrigator repaired a faulty pipe line during a hot summer day in Lamont CA. #WeFeedYou

Estaba a 94° a las 10:45 de la mañana mientras un irrigador reparaba una tubería dañada durante un caluroso día de verano en Lamont, CA. #SoyEsencial

The table grape harvest is fully underway in CAs Central Valley. It was 91° at 12 noon at this Bakersfield vineyard. Scenes like this are common along Highway 99 w/bright colored umbrellas protecting grapes as they are packed and workers going up and down the rows.
#WeFeedYou

Workers have begun harvesting Gala apples in Prosser WA. However during this early season it is very hard for them to even earn minimum wage. They earn $35 per 900lb bin. #WeFeedYou

"Luis" is hard at work in Gonzalez CA preparing the pipes to irrigate the new crop. "This work is hard, especially in the afternoons, as it's very windy in this area. Plus the loose soil makes the work even harder." #WeFeedYou

"Ian" is harvesting Mandarin oranges in Arvin CA. "I start at 5-6am. My back hurts by the end of the day from carrying the full 70 lb sacks. It's almost 100° by 12 so I work as fast as I can so I can finish before the heat gets even higher. I earn $55 per 900lb crate." #WeFeedYou

"Elsa" is harvesting carrots in Cuyama CA. "It is exhausting work especially with the high temps lately. We don't get paid well. We earn $3.05 per box, and each box contains 24 bunches of carrots. If our group make 200 boxes, the group divides the amount equally." #WeFeedYou

"Jesus" shared this pic from where he is harvesting table grapes in Fresno CA. "I begin work at 6am and finish at 2:30 pm. "I find the heat the most exhausting part of my work as the temps get very high. It's very hard working and enduring temperatures of around 101°." #WeFeedYou

"Lourdes" shares “I've worked in Salinas CA ag for 17 years. I'm currently removing the runners (vines that stick out from the main vine) on strawberry plants. This requires a lot of walking, bending and carrying bags full of these vines to the edge of the field." #WeFeedYou

"Gabriel" is working in the vegetables on CAs Central Coast. "I get up at 4:30 am to get to work on time. I spend long hours working bent over in the sun. It's very hard work especially during this hot season, but my hard work supports my wife and children." #WeFeedYou

There is a heat advisory across much of California this week. Please be careful.

Hay una alerta de calor en gran parte de California esta semana. Tenga cuidado.

#CALOR #WeFeedYou

"Santiago" shares, "We are preparing the water pipes to irrigate the cauliflower in Salinas CA. Today has been a very hard day because, apart from carrying the 35lb pipes and putting them in place, the day has been hotter than normal." #WeFeedYou

Ricardo" is picking blackberries in Salinas, CA. The quality isn't good and workers are only able to harvest 4 boxes/hr vs the 5-6 they pick when the crop is good. As they work piece rate this is real money for them as they only make 32 boxes in an 8-hour day vs 40-48. #WeFeedYou

"Pedro" has worked in agriculture for 18 years. "Right now I'm picking blackberries in Watsonville, CA. I'm working fast because I and paid piece rate. Current temperatures are hot for this area plus the tunnels we work in are made of plastic. It gets very hot" #WeFeedYou

Loaders or "swampers" rapidly pass, transfer and stack heavy grape boxes onto a trailer. It was 100° in Delano CA when this photo was taken. This work would be difficult at any time but in the current heatwave it's even harder. #WeFeedYou

"Joel" shared this photo of Gallo of Sonoma farm workers. These workers negotiated 9 paid holidays, a generous medical/dental/vison benefits and jury duty pay as part of their UFW contract. Let’s raise a glass of union label wine to these farm workers. Si Se Puede! #WeFeedYou

"Susana" shows off some of the beautiful red rspberriesvshe is harvesting in Salinas, CA. "Today, Saturday, we're focusing on harvesting the highest quality red raspberries. We began work at 6am and will leave at 3:30pm." #WeFeedYou

"Josefina" is harvesting sweet potato workers in Merced CA. "In order to do the work before the worst of the heat we begin at 4am and end at 12:30pm. I have to wake up even earlier to leave my 3 year old daughter with a babysitter to get to the site on time." #WeFeedYou

The harvest season is beginning at Scheid Vineyards. The company gathered all the UFW workers who operate harvesting equipment and machinery to train them on the systems implesented. This means operators fully understand their equipment & can perform their work safely. #WeFeedYou

"Isidro" sent this photo of strawberries he picked in Watsonville, CA. "I am proud of the work I do to put this fruit on the tables across America. Every strawberry I pick demonstrates my hard work and dedication." #WeFeedYou

We're harvesting the broccoli fields for the 2nd time and only get 4 hours of work. I still have to get up early, pack lunches for everyone, drop my kids at the babysitter and drive to the ranch. What I earn in those 4 hours, isn't enough to cover my living expenses. #WeFeedYou

With 100° temps a new norm, Republicans are trying to stop all federal heat safety protection regs, now or in the future. HR 6213 prohibits OSHA from creating or enforcing ANY national heat safety standard. We MUST stop it!

https://act.seiu.org/a/fedheatregs?ms=m 2/

#WeFeedYou

"Jose" is irrigating almond trees in the Madera CA area. He starts at 6am and finishes at 3:30 pm, earning $17/hr. "Temps are very high lately - reaching 105 °. The heat feels more intense due to the humidity caused by irrigation & a lack of breezes between the trees" #WeFeedYou

It was 10:45 AM in Bakersfield CA, and temps had already reached 102°. Grape pickers and packers are hard at work under the hot sun. The pickers steadily fill trays with freshly harvested grapes & packers carefully inspect, organize and stack each box for shipment. #WeFeedYou

"Fernando" & "Manuel" are irrigators in CAs Salinas Valley. Currently they are working in the lettuce spending their days preparing the land, installing and maintaining drip irrigation systems. #WeFeedYou