Blueberry Farming Giant Found to Use Child Labor at Michigan Fields

And we end today with a look at the ABC News investigation that exposed how one of the country’s largest blueberry growers uses child labor on its fields. Adkin Blue Ribbon Packing Company in South Haven, Michigan is at the center of this scandal. Wal-mart and the Kroger supermarket were among Adkin’s high-profile customers that have now cut ties with the blueberry grower. A Wal-Mart company spokesperson told ABC News it will not buy anything from Adkin pending the outcome of an investigation by Wal-mart’s own ethical sourcing team. Separately, the Department of Labor cited Adkin and 7 other blueberry growers in Michigan for violating child labor laws.

“The Blueberry Children” included research by four fellows from the Carnegie Corporation who spent weeks in fruit and vegetable fields in Michigan, New Jersey, and North Carolina. Democracy Now!‘s Kieran Krug-Meadows was one of those four fellows. We’re joined now by Brian Ross, the chief investigative correspondent at ABC News. And we’re also joined via video stream from Grand Rapids, Michigan by Teresa Hendricks of Michigan Migrant Legal Aid.

Brian Ross, Chief investigative correspondent of ABC News.

Teresa Hendricks, Executive Director of Michigan Migrant Legal Aid.

Related Links

• ABC News: "The Blueberry Children"

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