South Carolina peach grower took cash from farmworkers' pay for political donations, feds say

Onetime farmworker now has his personal Salinas Valley farm

05:03

Titan Farms, a South Carolina firm that provides contemporary and frozen vegetables and fruit to main U.S. retailers, illegally deducted political contributions and cleansing charges from greater than 1,300 seasonal international employees, in line with federal officers.

Billed as the most important peach grower on the East Coast, Titan violated H-2A program guidelines by requesting employees make political contributions that introduced their pay beneath the required $11.13 hour charge; and by charging employees a cleansing charge for employer-provided housing, the U.S. Division of Labor discovered.

Titan was required to pay $338,446 to 1,341 employees, with greater than $200,000 distributed to about half of these affected. The company is now looking for the remaining 617 employees collectively owed $132,308, it said.

“We’re asking the general public to help us in finding these employees owed wages,” Jamie Benefiel, the DOL’s wage and hour division district Director in Columbia, South Carolina, stated in a information launch.

“Employers have a elementary duty to make sure that all employees who come legally to the U.S. beneath the H-2A program are paid pretty,” Benefiel stated. “Deductions from employees’ wages are forbidden except they’re explicitly included within the contract.”

“We’re asking the general public to help us in finding these employees owed wages,” Benefiel added.

A significant provider of greens and peaches, the 6,200-acres operations in Ridge Springs, South Carolina, grows and ships its produce to almost two dozen grocery chains nationwide, together with Aldi, Costco, Kroger, Publix and Walmart.

Titan didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.

“Titan Farms is proud to take part within the H-2A short-term seasonal employee program. East of the employees enters america with a passport and visa to work at Titan Farms,” in line with the corporate’s web site. “The farm is pleased with every member of its workforce and realizes the impression these employees have on the general success of Titan Farms.”

Titan was additionally fined $2,850 in civil penalties for violations together with letting employees journey in unsafe autos.