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Program to Protect California Ag Workers Expands Again

Len WilcoxCalifornia Corner, COVID-19, Labor

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The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) announced that Yolo and Imperial counties are now included in the Housing for the Harvest program.

This program provides temporary hotel housing for farm and food-processing employees to self-isolate if they have been exposed to COVID-19 and cannot properly self-isolate at home. Twelve counties are now participating in Housing for the Harvest: Yolo, Imperial, Sacramento, San Luis Obispo, Kern, Madera, Kings, Riverside, Tulare, Santa Barbara, Fresno and San Joaquin.

The state is securing hotel rooms in participating counties, with local governments identifying administrators to manage the program and local community organizations to provide additional services, like meals, wellness checks and in-language assistance. Local administrators will serve as a point of contact for eligible workers.

“Housing for the Harvest is an essential tool to help protect the health of our agricultural workers, their families and local communities, as well as the food supply we all rely on,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross.

Housing for the Harvest is focused on the Central Valley, Imperial Valley and Central Coast regions primarily to provide opt-in housing support. Any county or region that is interested in joining the program should contact cdfa.emergency_response@cdfa.ca.gov.

Farmworkers and food-processing workers in Yolo County who are in need of these services can call 833-965-6268. In Imperial county, workers can call 442-228-0198. Personal information gathered through this process will be kept confidential.

Workers anywhere in the state can call 559-710-2000 or visit The Healthy Harvest website to find the contact information for their local administrators for the program.

About the Author

Len Wilcox

Correspondent at Large for Citrus Industry Magazine and AgNet West