Californians for Pesticide Reform shared Coalition Advocating for Pesticide Safety- Tulare County's post.

54 minutes ago

They had sprayed 5 minutes before we worked. We were working in the oranges. We know what we were getting ourselves into. Even the sprayer said we shouldn't go in there. But it is so easy to find workers that are willing so you couldn't just leave because you can be replaced. As soon as we went in we could smell it. The pesticide would go through the glove and into the hands. It was really hard to breathe. A few people said they weren't feeling well. Some were still feeling it the next day. That was the field I reported and the ag. commissioner couldn't find it. That field was the reason why I connected to CAPS again.
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It was very uncomfortable wearing the bandanas and the work clothes. Really uncomfortable. They had us doing the [sic] barba (the lower half of the orange tree). Those were easy. I started working because I wanted money. The family would work together. They would pay me like 10 bucks. I started getting most of what I earned when I started high school. Around 14 years old. Once I had to go to summer school and my dad said no because he wasn't going to pay for my clothes for school. So to work I went. Sometimes we would wake up around 4:30am to 5am to get ready for work and we would get out by 2pm.

It is easier for men cause they can pick up the ladder even with one arm. At first I was hesitant to use the ladder. It can be scary. Sometimes I would climb the ladder even when it didn't look secure. I know because I'm a girl that men were looking and so I would get on anyway because they're going to talk their shit.

I like what I do. These people (the farm workers) sometimes can't search for the information themselves. So I feel I should be there to inform them and share the information I have.

My daughter? I wouldn't want her to work in the fields. I wouldn't take her to the fields. Almost all my family works in the fields. I want her to maybe one day work in helping farm workers but without actually working in the fields like Dolores Huerta - she's so short. I want her to have a good education and be happy. ... See MoreSee Less

Californians for Pesticide Reform shared Safe Ag Safe Schools's post.

3 days ago

SASS visited ALBA - Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association today to learn more about small-scale organic farming! Big thanks to Misael, an ALBA farmer, we learned about the benefits and challenges of growing food without harmful pesticides.

According to Misael, small-scale organic agriculture is beneficial to both the producers and the consumers - the producers don’t have to spend money on chemical inputs and don’t need to worry about pesticide contamination, and the consumers get cleaner more nutritious food for their families. Thank you ALBA!!!SASS visited ALBA - Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association today to learn more about small-scale organic farming! Big thanks to Misael, an ALBA farmer, we learned about the benefits and challenges of growing food without harmful pesticides.

According to Misael, small-scale organic agriculture is beneficial to both the producers and the consumers - the producers don’t have to spend money on chemical inputs and don’t need to worry about pesticide contamination, and the consumers get cleaner more nutritious food for their families. Thank you ALBA!!! ... See MoreSee Less