A new California law that strengthens farmworkers' right to unionize is facing its first test case, and so far officials appear to be on the side of the farmworker – a novelty in an industry where intimidation against migrant workers is a common occurrence.

Dutra Farms, one of the state's prominent raspberry growers, allegedly fired Dalia Santiago in February for union organizing. She had worked on the farm for eight years. After investigating, the Agricultural Labor Relations Board – thanks to new provisions that went into effect January 1 – concluded Dutra was engaging in unfair labor practices, and won a court order requiring that Santiago be hired back immediately.

A new report from Human Rights Watch titled Cultivating Fear:The Vulnerability of Immigrant Farmworkers in the US to Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment,

. . . describes rape, stalking, unwanted touching, exhibitionism, or vulgar and obscene language by supervisors, employers, and others in positions of power.

When government officials insist on making science-based decisions in food and agricultural policy, what happens when the research is increasingly funded by huge corporations with a vested interest in the results? According to a new report by GAP coalition partner Food & Water Watch, almost 25 percent of agricultural research funding at land-grant universities came from private donations in 2010.

Food integrity concerns regarding USDA's proposal to streamline poultry inspection under the HAACP-Based Inspection Models Project (HIMP) – which would increase production line speeds and reduce government oversight – have been raised by consumer advocates and whistleblowers alike (including anonymous federal inspectors). Another significant, but often-overlooked, issue is the impact these proposed changes would have on the health and safety of the plant workers.

Image via wikimedia user SalocaBeef Products Inc. (BPI) – maker of ammoniated beef trimmings, or "pink slime" – announced that it will permanently close three of its four plants on May 25, a move that reveals the consequences of secrecy and nondisclosure in the food industry. 

Since late March, when BPI temporarily suspended all but one of its processing plants, the company hoped to shift consumer sentiment by attacking media coverage of pink slime and using meat-producing governors (including Ag Gag supporter Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad) as ambassadors for gross product.

Will a new traceback policy finally compel the USDA to hold Big Ag accountable for contaminated meat? The agency announced this week that, starting in July, it plans to detect the source of E. coli-tainted meat and poultry more quickly, in order to keep more tainted products out of the food supply.

CNN reports:

Currently when the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) performs routine E. coli testing of meat and poultry products, they need to have a “confirmed positive” test to instigate the traceback process for contaminants.

Under the new rules, FSIS can begin tracebacks if meat or poultry samples result in a “potential positive" test result, which means an investigation can launch 24 to 48 hours sooner than waiting for a confirmed positive test result.

Christie and Tom VilsackApparently, Christie Vilsack – a congressional candidate in Iowa and wife of USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack – has some qualms about her husband's department plan to hand poultry inspection over to industry. In a statement released yesterday, Christie Vilsack doesn't directly allude to the proposed rule (known as HIMP) but spotlights key concerns raised by anonymous USDA whistleblowers who submitted compelling affidavits to FIC.