Pregnant 17-year old dies working in a field

Great points all around.

This seems like a pretty good idea.

That would go a long way to doing nothing. They're not the only Vineyard doing that crap. If they were, I'm sure they're name, in particular, would be thrashed around and drug through the mud. There's more than one, and even then, a "boycott" is a joke, just like those "gasoline boycotts" for a particular day that I'm always getting. Its won't solve a thing, and its idiotic to believe that it would even have a minute effect on how they treat their workers. If you honestly believe that's the case, lets boycott goods made in China and Indonesia and wherever else they have slave shops producing the products that we consume at wages a slave would balk at and conditions that would make the homeless in America look rich. Its an asanine idea to boycott and think it'll have an adverse effect, especially since next to no one will actually boycott in the first place.

It's so different than a gas boycott, I don't even know where to begin.

Way to cop out so easily.

For those of us who know that boycotts can be incredibly effective, here's a list of brands owned by Bronco Wine Co. (She was laboring for a farm labor contractor, Merced Farm Labor Contracting, on a vineyard east of Stockton growing grapes for West Coast Grape Farming, a division of Bronco Wines, which is also part of Franzia vineyards.)

I will keep a list of the brands handy when I next purchase wine and will also be sending a letter to Bronco Wine Co. to let them know that as long as they utilize unscrupulous contractors, I will not support their products.

Which is why I buy French wines. Tastes great, less exploitation. Vive la France!

Not to rain on your parade but the wine you buy is called "Freedom" Wine now

I say Poppycock! The French wine industry has been in decline, dropping production value (and quality) while loosing its share of the world market. Realizing that they've got to do more then just get by on pomp alone, they've just relaxed their snooty and antiquated appellation production rules to adopt "New World" viticulture, enology and marketing techniques. In fact, if it hadn't been for American root stock, the French wouldn't even have wine to produce today (a fact that they're loathe to admit).

While I'm can't speak for every vineyard and winery out there, not all California wines are produced under such exploitative techniques. This article unfairly characterizes Californian vintners as being callous and bloodthirsty. I'm sure if you met some you'd quickly find they're very mellow, heartwarming and simply wine-thirsty. (I admit I'm biased, coming not only from a wine producing region, but also as a 3rd generation "cellar slave" who's worked alongside plenty of guys from south of the border who've put me to shame with their hard working efforts.)

I agree that all employment practices should be fair and humane and am abhorred by the many unjust labor practices that exploit migrant laborers. I also think that the tragic death of Maria highlights the issue of amnesty (or at least some form of legal status) among migrant workers. I firmly believe that most Americans shun manual labor, especially in the agricultural sectors. It would also be extremely difficult if not impossible for some industries to survive at all without the aid of imported, foreign labor to help with harvest and production. Unless all forms of production were to become completely automated (yuk), there is always going to be the need for human interaction (which actually helps improve quality). Also consider that food prices would skyrocket without the agricultural industries need for a cheap labor force (or so most agribusinesses would have us believe - to note, my family was quite fair with wages, benefits & even housing, but admittedly, being that the business model wasn't about the profits (ha!) but more about the lifestyle and living it offered, I suspect that it may have been the exception and not the norm). I predict that unless agriculture experiences a 21st century renaissance with localized farming, production and marketing practices, we're bound to continue seeing the predominant global market economy define labor practice to remain "competitive" i.e profitable...

That being said, my father (who works as a wine industry consultant now) had to sell the winery under family pressure (they just didn't understand the culture or lifestyle). When asked by some of his clients, "So how do I make money in the wine industry?", he often quips, "easy, first you buy a vineyard and a winery, after many years, you either learn to enjoy making wine for little or no profit, or you sell it... That's when you make your money." It's his little way of braking the ice whilst presenting the reality of the business.

No, it doesn't. It tells the story of one specific company's labor practices.

Boycott Franzia? I always thought it was a little odd pouring wine from a box anyways.

SPOILERS! (Click to view)

Whoo-ah! Shotgun that baby!

Whoa Nelly, when I first read the article on Friday, I could have sworn that bean had been injecting some of his own editorial hyperbole, overgeneralizing the situation whilst smearing all Californian vineyards and winemakers. Unless my memory is completely faulty, me thinks the editor perhaps engaged in a bit of revisionism... (He is a member of the SG staff so it isn't entirely impossible is it)? If not, then I'm clearly mistaken and retract my erroneous statement. Good on you for calling me out on that PRockGirlScout.

I do try to boycott the slave shop goods (mainly, I just try to consume as little as possible)

Well, its nice to see someone does. I try and be as specific with the brands that I choose as possible, but my knowledge is woefully limited so I'm sure, loath as I am to admit it, that I probably do own some slave shop goods. I don't boycott, per se...but I do try to do some background on what I do buy, though I don't always.

HINT: Don't buy ANYTHING from the gap, banana republic, hot topic, or any related affiliates.

Violence and/or Slavery!

That poor girl, and her child

I hope that criminal charges are brought against the owners of the Vineyard (who were either negligent in not knowing what was going on in their own business, or downright cruel if they purposely did these sort of things) in addition to heavy fines. The industry needs to be held accountable for their treatment of workers. Seriously, where is the Union in cases such as this?
Having done farm labor myself in the past, its very physically taxing work, especially during the height of summer. One can not be expected to do it without large amounts of water on hand, and the ability to take breaks to starve off heat exhaustion. *shudders*
I hope the asswipes who are responsible are made to suffer for this!

I'd personally love to see them face criminal charges.

Your remarks made me think of a Tom Tomorrow cartoon concerning
regulation