Farm Workers Face Double Risk: Wildfire Smoke And COVID-19

Jesús Ahumada (left) oversees farm employees choosing strawberries. He talks with Henry Gonzales, the Monterey County farming commissioner who protected more than 330,000 masks for farm workers there.

Erika Mahoney/KAZU.

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Erika Mahoney/KAZU.

Jesús Ahumada (left) manages farm employees selecting strawberries. He talks with Henry Gonzales, the Monterey County agricultural commissioner who secured more than 330,000 masks for farm workers there.

Erika Mahoney/KAZU.

With accuracy, farm employees promptly harvest rows of strawberries at a natural field in Salinas, Calif. It’s effort, even without an international pandemic and wildfires burning in the background.

Four major wildfires emerged across the state’s Central Coast in mid-August, one near Salinas. Smoke blanketed the region, the sun shone orange and ash rained down.

” It injured our sinuses,” stated Jesús Ahumada, a farming foreman, in Spanish. “The smoke was so thick.”

Ahumada leans up versus his white pickup, which stands apart against the green field. He monitors 65 farm workers. When the smoke was excruciating, they decided together to pick up their security. They stopped for one day, Ahumada stated.

That wasn’t a simple call. Farm employees are paid at least base pay, however earn more money the more dog crates they fill.

Dr. Caroline Kennedy, medical director of the Center Services Bureau at the Monterey County Health Department, says it’s been one difficulty after another for individuals who gather our food; first COVID-19, now wildfire. Kennedy directs nine centers in a county where farming is a leading market.

Monterey County is home to the Salinas Valley, which is called the “Salad Bowl of the World.” Here, large farm fields of lettuce, broccoli and strawberries feed the entire nation.

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A year ago, California’s Department of Occupational Safety and Health, or Cal/OSHA, executed new requirements for protecting outside employees from wildfire smoke

” So when I see employees being encouraged that they can go out into the field and exert themselves as long as they have, in their belongings, a mask, that’s … that’s not extremely protective,” said Stedman.

According to the United Farm Employees, enforcement of the policy is also troublesome.

The labor union performed a statewide poll in late August to get a much better understanding of the scenario. Armando Elenes, UFW’s secretary treasurer, stated of the 350 workers who reacted, lots of from California’s Central Valley, about 84%stated they didn’t get a mask. Employees told Elenes they might see the haze and felt a burning feeling in their eyes.

However, he said, it’s challenging to think about long-lasting health impacts when you’re just trying to find out next week.

” They, sadly, were more anxious about trying to make ends fulfill and trying to pay the rent,” Elenes stated.

With over a dozen wildfires burning in California and a worldwide pandemic that’s making N-95 s tough to discover, the state’s Workplace of Emergency Services addressed calls for help. It delivered around 1.4 million masks to county farming commissioners in 35 counties.

Monterey County Agricultural Commission Henry Gonzales received over 330,000 He called them a blessing considering their deficiency.

Gonzales understands first-hand what this job takes. He was a migrant farm employee when he was a kid. He stated appearing to this task can be a danger, but the vegetables and fruit do not wait.

” They’re ready when they’re all set. And if you’re not there to harvest, they’re going to go waste,” Gonzales said.

Waste that suggests less money for business, smaller incomes for farm workers and fewer strawberries in grocery carts; losses that might be needed to protect farm workers’ health.