VINELAND (New Jersey) DAILY JOURNAL

September 29, 2009

Hammonton farms employed young children

TRENTON -- Seven blueberry farms in Hammonton and eight farm labor contractors affiliated with them were fined for federal labor law violations, including employing children as young as 7 for farm labor.

The U.S. Department of Labor alleges three of the farms -- Oakcrest Farms, Columbia Farms and Cappuccio Farms -- employed underage workers younger than 12 years old.

The other farms fined were Lanza Blueberry Farm, August Wuillerman Farms, Winner Circle Blueberries and JSM Blueberries LLC.

Other violations in-clude unsafe housing conditions, failure to keep adequate vehicle insurance and failure to register crew leaders as required.

Penalties imposed against the 15 employers total nearly $45,000. The farms paid more than $13,000 to laborers in back wages after the Labor Department investigation.

Carol Paul of Belle Glade, Fla., was cited for violating law by not paying the transportation costs for 30 farm workers who traveled from Puerto Rico to New Jersey.

Columbia Farms has denied the allegations and requested a hearing in response to its penalty, the Labor Department said.