The U.S. Department of Labor has recently cracked down on a Sonoma County produce grower after an investigation unearthed a series of labor violations. Humberto Castaneda Produce, located at 2859 Fulton Road in Fulton, CA, was found to have committed multiple infractions against its workers, many of whom are temporary agricultural workers on H-2A visas.
Notably, an investigation by the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division revealed that Humberto Castaneda Produce had been paying its H-2A visa workers at higher rates than their local counterparts, directly contravening the program's requirements. The employer, failing to provide responsible modes of transportation, housed their workers in deficient trailers, those not meeting the safety and health codes, which they had an obligation to maintain.
As a result, the grower must pay out $31,102 in back wages to 23 affected workers, alongside $18,154 in civil money penalties for the various violations. As reported by the U.S. Department of Labor, Francisco Ocampo, the Wage and Hour Division District Director in San Jose, condemned the grower's actions, stating, "Humberto Castaneda Produce knew the requirements of the H-2A program but chose to violate the rights of guest and local workers by failing to provide full wages and safe housing and transportation." Ocampo emphasized that this enforcement action will ensure workers finally receive the compensation they are duly entitled to.
Humberto Castaneda Produce, which commenced operations in 1988, is known for cultivating various vegetables such as serrano and jalapeno peppers, tomatoes, squash, and wine grapes. This company not only supplies produce to major supermarket chains like Safeway but also serves smaller local groceries, playing a significant role in the agricultural landscape of Sonoma County. After the investigation, tools and meals or kitchen facilities, which were supposed to be standard provisions by the employer, were found to have not been provided to the workers, along with the reimbursement for the transportation costs they incurred while coming and going from their countries of residence.
