2021
Hilary Beaumont
Migrant farmworkers lived in cramped, impersonal conditions long before the pandemic brought outbreaks and lockdowns. Then Canada hit pause on in-person inspections, and many workers hit a breaking point
The Narwal
In fall 2020, Damion, a Jamaican worker who picked tomatoes at a greenhouse in southern Ontario, broke out in an itchy rash. Then his skin peeled off.
He was working for Lakeside Produce, which grows vegetables in the farming town of Leamington, Ont. The company is owned by Chris Cervini, who took it over from his father. Lakeside also runs greenhouses in Michigan and Texas, and is expanding into North Carolina.
That fall, Lakeside had dusted the inside of two greenhouses with a thick layer of limestone powder, which is used to stop disease and pests from destroying tomatoes. Workers say the powder filled the air, burning their eyes, lungs and skin. It contaminated their food in the lunchroom. They couldn’t escape it.
Damion, who didn’t want his last name published, said the chemical lightened his skin. Another worker saw Damion’s skin peel off “like when a lizard is changing its skin.” Damion went to a doctor and received pills to stop the itching.
Sudeshna Nambiar, Lakeside’s chief operating officer, told The Narwhal in a letter that lime has been used “for generations” in agriculture to “control PH levels,” and that it was misused “for a very brief period due to new management.” She said the company removed the powder within 24 hours.
But multiple current or former Lakeside workers told The Narwhal that the powder was only removed after they went on strike, a drastic action caused by general mistreatment by their employer during the pandemic, with the chemical and its effects being the final straw. Nambiar denies that a “work stoppage” took place.
Photos from workers show warning labels on bags of Dolomitic Hydrated Lime that read: “Danger: causes serious eye damage. Causes skin irritation. May cause cancer if inhaled. May cause respiratory irritation. Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure.” The labels state that those exposed to the chemical should wear gloves and eye or face protection, but a worker said Lakeside only gave them a thin disposable mask and told them to wash and wear it again. The company did not respond when asked if these allegations were true.
Greenhouses like Lakeside’s are huge agricultural operations that rely on migrant workers to produce vegetables that are sometimes eaten by Canadians, but largely headed for export. People like Damion keep the food supply flowing, brought here on visas that are tied to specific employers, which creates a constant fear of being sent home for complaining. Because of this, migrant farmworkers often endure dangerous conditions, with poor access to healthcare and little government oversight. And when COVID-19 brought sickness, panic and lockdowns, a bad situation only became worse.
Agriculture and horticulture workers and General relevance - all sectors
Canada, Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec, British Columbia, Iba pang mga Lalawigan, Pederal, Nova Scotia, Regional relevance, and National relevance
