Sarah Varney, writing for the NY Times:
Some farmers seem resigned to higher labor costs. “That cost is going to be borne by us at the end of the day,” said Scott Deardorff, a partner at Oxnard-based Deardorff Family Farms, which grows strawberries, cauliflower and chard, among other salad bar staples, all of which are likely to be more expensive for consumers down the line.
I kept waiting for a quote from the worker who could finally get health insurance, and whose life would now be better because he/his son/his wife’s debilitating illness would now be consistently treated.
I was disappointed.
In fact, in the whole article — about a marginalized population newly getting access to health care — there wasn’t a single positive point. But maybe I’m missing something.
For me, it’s a no-brainer: I’m more than willing to pay an extra 50¢ for my pound of strawberries or broccoli if it means the person who picked them can lead a more normal life, and can be less worried about bankruptcy or deportation if he or she gets sick.
Otherwise, really, it just feels like exploitation.