Baja farmworkers' strike crimping some produce supplies in U.S. | Food Production and Preservation | Forums

Wonder when prices will spike

Farmworkers protesting low wages at Mexican export farms in Baja California timed their strike for the peak of the harvest season, and their bold tactics appear to be having an impact.

Produce industry growers, retailers, shippers and importers on Friday reported some shortages of strawberries, zucchinis and tomatoes at stores and produce markets in Southern California and beyond. Prices remain stable, but consumers could feel the price pinch if the strike isn’t settled soon, they say.

Thousands of laborers in the San Quintin Valley 200 miles south of San Diego went on strike Tuesday, leaving the fields and greenhouses full of produce that is now on the verge of rotting. Though they stopped blocking the main highway to export markets, the road remains hard to traverse as rogue groups stop and, at times, attack truck drivers. ‘

A trucker for Del Cabo Produce reported that people threw a molotov cocktail at his truck on Thursday afternoon. He also saw the throng loot a truck for Mexican retailer Calimax.

“Our driver escaped and went into the town to hide and we called for federal police to support him,” said Juan Oliva, Del Cabo’s operations manager.

More - http://www.latimes.c.....story.html