Amanda Perez Pintado, Investigate Midwest/Report for America

USDA study shows working conditions in meatpacking plants likely drove coronavirus outbreaks

The analysis supports what many meatpacking workers and advocates suspected during the early months of the pandemic — working shoulder-to-shoulder coupled with high line speeds contributed to the virus’ spread.

By Amanda Perez Pintado, Investigate Midwest/Report for America and Madison McVan, Investigate Midwest

/ 6 Oct 2021

USDA study shows working conditions in meatpacking plants likely drove coronavirus outbreaks

As labor pool shrinks, farmers turn to foreign workers

Illinois farmers said they're having an increasingly hard time finding locals to perform labor-intensive farm jobs.

By Amanda Perez Pintado, Investigate Midwest/Report for America

/ 23 Sep 2021

As labor pool shrinks, farmers turn to foreign workers

Human trafficking has long haunted agriculture. Experts fear it flourished during the pandemic.

At times, the H-2A visa program that brings non-citizen farmworkers to the U.S. has been used to facilitate human trafficking, experts and activisits said. But the number of people trafficked through the program appears to have increased.

By Amanda Perez Pintado, Investigate Midwest/Report for America

/ 23 Sep 2021

Human trafficking has long haunted agriculture. Experts fear it flourished during the pandemic.

GRAPHIC: Use of the H-2A program more than tripled in past decade

The number of positions certified for the fruit and tree nut industry increased about 400%, according to USDA data.

By Amanda Perez Pintado, Investigate Midwest/Report for America

/ 9 Sep 2021

GRAPHIC: Use of the H-2A program more than tripled in past decade

As labor pool shrinks, Illinois farmers turn to foreign workers

Farms across the Midwest are struggling to hire domestic employees. In Illinois, the number of foreign agricultural workers has increased more than 250% in the past five years.

By Amanda Perez Pintado, Investigate Midwest/Report for America

/ 9 Sep 2021

As labor pool shrinks, Illinois farmers turn to foreign workers

‘Most of the time, it doesn't work out’: Black farmers wait for debt relief as white counterparts sue

White farmers have sued to prevent the USDA from forgiving loans to farmers of color. “Why are things always being stopped for us?” one asked.

By Amanda Perez Pintado, Investigate Midwest/Report for America

/ 4 Aug 2021

‘Most of the time, it doesn't work out’: Black farmers wait for debt relief as white counterparts sue

GRAPHIC: Americans spent less money on food during the pandemic

In a historic low, U.S. consumers spent 8.6% of their disposable income on food last year, a 10.1% decrease from 2019, according to the U.S. Department

By Amanda Perez Pintado, Investigate Midwest/Report for America

/ 7 Jul 2021

Amanda Perez Pintado, Investigate Midwest/Report for America

USDA study shows working conditions in meatpacking plants likely drove coronavirus outbreaks

As labor pool shrinks, farmers turn to foreign workers

Human trafficking has long haunted agriculture. Experts fear it flourished during the pandemic.

GRAPHIC: Use of the H-2A program more than tripled in past decade

As labor pool shrinks, Illinois farmers turn to foreign workers

‘Most of the time, it doesn't work out’: Black farmers wait for debt relief as white counterparts sue

GRAPHIC: Americans spent less money on food during the pandemic

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