Friday, March 30, 2012
Food News Recent study reveals violations in North Carolina migrant farmworker housing
Posted by Victoria Bouloubasis on Fri, Mar 30, 2012 at 4:28 PM
A newly published research study conducted by the Center for Worker Health at Wake Forest University found violations in North Carolina migrant housing. The paper, published in the March edition of the American Journal of Industrial Medicine, reveals several violations of the North Carolina Migrant Housing Act at the 183 labor camps that were inspected.
It is the largest and most comprehensive study of farmworker housing in the southeastern United States. (Previous reports on N.C. labor camp conditions include A state of fear: Human rights abuses in North Carolina’s tobacco industry, produced by OxFam America and the Farmworker Labor Organizing Committee.)
The Wake Forest University research revealed prominent violations such as infestations of roaches, mice and rats; non-working toilets and showers; contaminated drinking water; and lack of fire safety equipment and smoke alarms.
“Housing of migrant farmworkers has historically been an issue of both safety and justice. That’s why we looked at it,” says Dr. Thomas A. Arcury. “This paper examined the compliance of specific regulations that applied to migrant housing. What we saw was wide non-compliance with current migrant housing regulations.”
The North Carolina Department of Labor is responsible for enforcing migrant housing law. Farmworker advocates from the NC Justice Center, Farmworker Advocacy Network and Toxic Free NC will finally meet with NCDOL Commissioner Cherie Berry on April 3, after ten years of requesting a formal meeting. They plan to discuss the findings of the report. Berry is up for reelection this year.
Arcury will also attend the meeting to present his findings. A public health scientist, his main research focuses on the N.C. farmworker demographic. He says not only must the compliance of existing regulations be enforced, but those regulations need to also be evaluated.
He cites an example in restroom conditions. According to current regulations, one shower head per 10 workers and three toilets per 15 workers, without a privacy wall in between, are considered in compliance.
“I would argue it’s not, from an occupational justice perspective,” he says.
Arcury conducted the first epidemiological study on green tobacco sickness and its effect on farmworkers in 1998. Other Wake Forest University studies this year include research on the nutrition of farmworker children and pesticide exposure in the fields.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Food Events Sixth annual Empty Bowls benefit for Urban Ministries
Posted by Andrew Branch on Thu, Mar 8, 2012 at 11:57 AM
The sixth annual Empty Bowls benefit for Urban Ministries of Durham is today from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Durham Armory.
Eleven restaurants are providing soup for the event and soup contest, including Thrills from the Grill and Mad Hatter Cafe and Bakeshop. There will also be bread and donated desserts.
This year, Empty Bowls' first after-party will take place at Fullsteam brewery, with area food trucks donating 10 percent of their profits.
Ticket prices to the Armory are $15 for a meal only and $30 for a meal and handcrafted bowl. Children six and under eat free.
UMD hopes to raise more than $30,000 for its Community Cafe, which provides free meals for more than 600 people every day.
A full list of participating restaurants and food trucks can be found at the Empty Bowls page on UMD's website. Tickets can be purchased either online or at the event.
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