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Post by lisaann on Oct 16, 2016 7:21:19 GMT -5
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Post by desertwoman on Oct 16, 2016 9:25:03 GMT -5
They are covered from head to toe. Why? The only thing I can come up with is that conventionally grown strawberries are on the "Dirty Dozen" list, using some of the most pesticides. Perhaps it's to protect them from exposure, which I imagine could be quite high when handling a huge volume of plants? Or maybe they are working in the fields where spraying is happening?
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Post by jobet on Oct 16, 2016 9:41:37 GMT -5
Perhaps it's to protect them from exposure, which I imagine could be quite high when handling a huge volume of plants? I think you're right about that!
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Post by lisaann on Oct 16, 2016 9:49:51 GMT -5
Quote:
“Harvesting crew members get about $30/hour and putting them on a transplanting job with about $10/hour is not ideal,” Jenkins says.
Well, if they have to cover up that much, I hope they get health benefits too.
Bank robbers don't cover up that much. Shoo!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2016 21:32:47 GMT -5
The article also mentions Summer planting. Driscoll's Strawberries are in Southern Cali which this year has broken records which have been held since 1913. I'm guessing you are correct that they are covered up due to exposure but it might also have something to do with working outside in temperatures of 118 or 120F.
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Post by davidjp on Oct 23, 2016 11:00:35 GMT -5
That photo could be from around here. I went out to an area with a harvesting crew on grapes in spring this year and they were all dressed up like that. I think the main reason is sun exposure, if you're out most of the day the sun is so intense any uncovered skin would get some serious exposure. Not sure where exactly the main areas of production are but that area I went was in appropriately Thermal, California which does easily get to 115F in mid summer but last time I was out there they were harvesting strawberries around Christmas time, I doubt the fruit would survive mid summer out there but of course they'd have to plant in fall for that harvest. I see fields of summer strawberries nearer the coast where its a lot cooler. The main strawberry breeding and development station is not far from me.
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Post by desertwoman on Oct 23, 2016 11:15:14 GMT -5
I would hate to be dressed like that in 100+ degrees. I would be dropping over from over heating. Seems like a simple shade cloth could be strung up that would be far more kind.
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Post by davidjp on Oct 23, 2016 12:00:13 GMT -5
Out there 100 would be a mid spring like day. Its very close to the Salton sea and so when it gets really hot they tend to have algal blooms which result in oxygen depletion and massive fish kills. So not only do you have the heat but millions upon millions of dead rotting fish. Nice. A lot of the beaches are now made up of dead fish bones and barnacles. Here's a photo taken in April I think of a crew harvesting grapes, lots of shade around and underneath the canopies it was really nice and probably then only about 95 mid day. I think a lot of these crews start really early when its still cool but I really don't know how they manage through a day out there. I'm afraid thats how our agriculture system works
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