Coronavirus Spreads to Temporary Foreign Agricultural Workers in QuebecOn Thursday, June 11, the media reported a COVID-19 outbreak at Vegpro International[1], located in the town of Sherrington, in southwestern Quebec's Montérégie administrative region. Vegpro International is one of the largest produce growers in North America, which sells ready-to-eat and pre-washed produce such as lettuce under the trademark Fresh Attitude. The first case of COVID-19 was confirmed on May 28, after a Guatemalan worker presented symptoms. Temporary foreign workers on the farm share cramped quarters and many common areas and the virus has quickly spread. A spokesperson for the Integrated Health and Social Services Centre (CISSS) for the Montrégie-Centre region reported that out of a total of 23 workers who have tested positive for the virus, 18 are temporary foreign workers.
Quebec's Union of Agricultural Producers (UPA) has said that this year Quebec has only received half of the temporary foreign workers it was expecting. For example, just over 5,000 temporary foreign workers from Guatemala and Mexico have arrived thus far, out of an expected 12,660. By June 11, based on the original planning forecast, there would have been close to 10,000 foreign agricultural workers in Quebec. Note1. Vegpro International, which was founded in 1998, claims to be the largest vegetable producer in Canada. It distributes its produce across Canada as well as in the northeastern United States. Specialized in the washing and packaging of baby lettuces, Vegpro also sells a wide range of vegetables grown on its land and has fields in Quebec and Florida. Its retailers include the major food distribution chains and such giants as Walmart, Sobeys, Costco, Metro, IGA, Maxi, Loblaws, Foodland and Provigo. (With files from Radio-Canada, Vegpro International and the Montreal Gazette)
This article was published in Article Link:   Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca |
The outbreak has
caused a slowdown in the operations of the
company, which is anticipating the arrival of
other Mexican workers, who will be placed in
quarantine upon arrival. Quebec Associate Deputy
Minister of Health and Public Health Director,
Dr. Horacio Arruda, has told the press that the
pandemic protocols in place to make sure
temporary workers arrive in Quebec in good
health and stay that way, are to "get special
attention in the coming days."