Recently I learned of the plight of the farmworkers in Burlington, Wash., who pick the berries for Sakuma Brothers Berry Farms, also supplier for Driscoll Berries. These berries are sold at Thriftway on Vashon.

Underpaid, deplorable living conditions, abusive local teens hired to supervise and unpaid women and teenage pickers, among other injustices, have been the impetus for several strikes that were ceased due to promises made by Sakuma to right the wrongs. The injustices have continued, causing the farmworkers to strike for a third time and call for a boycott of Sakuma Brothers berries.

Farmworkers, many from Mexico and Central America, pick the bulk of food many of us eat. The hard labor involved is well known. In these times when large businesses profit beyond what most workers can ever hope for, it is a travesty that such work is denigrated. I ask any people of conscience to please honor the current boycott. In the memory of Caesar Chavez and many others who have struggled for the basic human rights of these laborers, may shoppers at Thriftway please honor this boycott.

— Swaneagle Harijan