Over the past year, journalist Max Blau has reported extensively on crimes against farmworkers legally employed in the United States from Mexico and Central America. These workers have faced stolen wages, threats at gunpoint, and in one case, a woman was held captive, raped, and nearly killed.

Blau’s investigation, published on July 21, 2026, by ProPublica, focuses on the disconnect between the abuses occurring on farms and the limited awareness among American consumers. He highlights the difficulty shoppers face in knowing whether the fruits and vegetables they purchase, such as blueberries grown predominantly in Georgia, come from farms where workers have been harmed.

Experts studying farm labor conditions and food supply chains identified the Fair Food Program as the gold standard for preventing worker abuse. This program involves supermarkets and corporate buyers committing to pay slightly more for produce—a cost so minimal, just a few pennies per pound, that it reportedly does not increase prices significantly.

Blau notes that the use of labor contractors persists because farmers struggle to find workers within the U.S., contributing to ongoing labor issues. His reporting underscores the need for greater transparency and improved protections for farmworkers.

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