Farm Workers Possibly Evicted From Orchard Given Aid

SHAFTER, Calif. -- Shafter resident Jeremy Bailey saw the story about the 100 plus out-of-state farm workers on ABC23 Friday afternoon and said he just had to help.

Bailey called ABC23, connected with the United Farm Workers and bought $200 worth of groceries at Apple Market in Shafter. The store added another $100 to help the workers out.

Late Friday evening, as the sun set on Shafter, Bailey and Armando Elenes of the UFW dropped off the groceries at a labor camp on the north side of Shafter.

According to the United Farm Workers, the Washington state area farm workers were evicted because of media coverage earlier Friday from the cherry orchards where they had erected a tent city.

Several of the workers came out to help and bring the groceries into where they're staying now, a small apartment in a Shafter labor camp, rather than sleeping in tents, sleeping bags and cars in the cherry orchard where they hoped to work.

While the UFW is upset with Stemilt Growers Company for treating the workers the way the UFW alleges, some of the workers may begin work at the orchard as early as Monday.

In the meantime, they have food and shelter thanks to Bailey, his family and the UFW.

Anyone interested in helping out the workers from Washington state should contact the UFW.