Child Labor-Not only an issue overseas.

Wal-Mart and Kroger supermarket chains have cut ties with one of the country’s biggest blueberry growers. This comes after an investigation conducted by ABC news and four graduate students with the Carnegie Corporation working as interns. The investigation turned up children working at the Adkin Blue Ribbon Packing Company, in South Haven, Michigan this summer. A five-year was reported seen lugging two heavy buckets that were picked by her parents and brothers. Her brothers are only seven and eight years old. There was also an 11-year old in the fields as well that stated he has been picking berries since the age of eight. The owner of the company, Randy Adkin, once was featured on a billboard for Wal-Mart stated his berries were “locally produced and locally sold.” A spokesperson for Wal-Mart stated they will not tolerate the use of child labor and will not be purchasing any additional product from the company in question pending the outcome of the investigation. Adkins was cited by the Department of Labor for violating federal child labor laws.

Michigan was not the only state that was investigated. New Jersey and North Carolina was also investigated. Pictures show children in Texas harvesting onions, as well as grape tomatoes in North Carolina. A graduate of the Columbia University, Joel Stonington, stated that it comes down to small fingers picking the smaller fruits and vegetables.

I read this story and I couldn't believe it. I honestly thought that child labor issues were more of a problem overseas. But I guess you learn something new every day. I personally do not like blueberries but I do like onions and tomatoes. I never really put any thought into where they come from or how exactly that from the vine to the store. I think now this will definitely make think the next time I am at the store about where everything comes from and the possibility that a child was the one responsible for my food getting to the store. My kids have chores but I would never think of making them do what these children were/are doing. Children should be out having fun; playing, riding bikes, playing with other kids, etc. Not in fields picking our food