New Jersey Blueberry Farms Cited for Labor, Insurance Violations

Seven farms and eight farm labor contractors in southern New Jersey have been fined for federal labor law violations, including employing children as young as 7 for farm labor.

All the farms are in Atlantic County.

The U.S. Department of Labor says three farms employed underage workers.

Other violations include unsafe housing conditions, failure to keep adequate vehicle insurance and failure to register crew leaders as required.

Penalties imposed against the 15 employers total nearly $45,000. The farms paid more than $13,000 to laborers in back wages after the Labor Department investigation.