All COVID-stricken migrant workers at Norfolk farm operation now out of isolation

The head of a large farm near Simcoe shut down by a COVID-19 outbreak where one migrant worker died and more than 200 others were infected says everyone is now out of isolation and back on the farm. 

President and CEO Scott Biddle said the final workers returned recently to the vegetable farm in Vittoria following the outbreak that first hit in late May.

Juan Lopez Chaparro, 55, died in a London hospital on June 20 after contracting the virus. A funeral service for the father of four was held at Blessed Sacrament church in Burford, just north of the farm operation, last weekend.

Biddle conceded that the death has affected morale on the large vegetable-growing operation.

"It's never easy losing someone. He was part of the team and … it's definitely been tough."

The outbreak forced the Scotlynn Group to abandon its asparagus crop, but work continues on the farm's other crops, which include sweet corn, watermelons, pumpkins and ginseng.

"We should be on schedule for those crops," Biddle said.

In the meantime efforts continue to prevent any further outbreaks of COVID-19.

"We're making sure that everybody's wearing the proper PPE equipment and keeping social distance where possible. And, you know, being extra cautious."

Leamington farm closed

Meanwhile, Nature Fresh in Leamington, Ont. was shut down by the region's health unit after 191 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed over the weekend.

The health unit's order came approximately one week after Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced a three-point plan to better support the province's agri-farm workers, which includes a provision allowing positive asymptomatic workers to continue working outdoors in isolation.

But at Nature Fresh, the health unit said there were too many asymptomatic workers to allow them to continue with their jobs. 

Housing not cramped

At the Scotlynn Group farm, Biddle says he doesn't know how the virus spread and stressed that the company has always practiced stringent cleaning practices in order to meet food safety standards.

Canada's chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam has said that the cramped quarters in which migrant workers live give rise to quick spread of any virus.

But Biddle defended the lodging Scotlynn Group provides for its workers. He said his employees were "not in any kind of close, cramped quarters. That really is just an assumption made by a lot of people."

He said all of the housing was inspected and approved by the local health unit and the federal health department.

"Its no different than any college dorm or any summer camp for kids. They have ample space and all of our housing is fairly new and up to date and … more than exceeds the requirements."

Biddle has said his company's working conditions have been held up as an example for other farm operations.

Advocacy group hears complaints

But that view was recently challenged by the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change.

Spokesperson Karen Cocq told CBC her group had received complaints from a number of workers at Scotlynn.

"It's a very large operation and we've heard a lot of concerns from workers about the housing conditions," said Cocq.

She said workers also complained from the start of the outbreak that they weren't being provided any personal protective equipment.

The Mexican workers at Scotlynn are among 60,000 short-term foreign workers who come to Canada to plant and harvest seasonal crops each year.