Hey plant people!
I wanted to share something that’s really been on my mind lately. I recently watched this video by Pretty in Green it’s called “The Costa Farms problem” and I knew Costa Farms was mid but this really makes me want to never support them.
Link: https://youtu.be/eLX2CvDO5z4?si=357ZKYVjrLVXdaU9
If you don’t want to watch the video here’s the TL;DW:
-Costa Farms depends heavily on immigrant and undocumented workers, many of whom are pushed into accepting long hours, low pay, and brutal conditions because they have no other choice.
-These workers often deal with extreme heat and unsafe environments without proper protection. People have literally died from the heat while working in the fields and the response from the company has been silence or blame-shifting.
-Meanwhile, Costa Farms has funneled millions into political action committees (PACs) to fight against heat protection laws, labor reforms, and immigrant rights, so they can keep exploiting cheap labor with zero accountability.
I love plants just like everyone else here but this isn’t just about one bad company. It’s about an industry that depends on people suffering in silence to make a buck. And we shouldn’t support those who profit off the suffering of others.
I really recommend watching the video. I’m starting to look into more ethical, small-scale growers and I’d love to hear if anyone else is doing the same or has recommendations.
This isn’t about guilt or to shame anyone, it’s about awareness and doing better when we can.❤️
by No_Day4782
6 Comments
Thanks for sharing. Eye opening for sure.
Thank you!!! You just confirmed my resolution
My favorite ethical place to get plants is r/TakeAPlantLeaveAPlant. Smaller shops that are focused on really particular types of plants are often more ethical, so it’s harder to find an all-purpose houseplant vendor that is ethical.
How will Costa Farms stay in business when their employees are all deported? Who will they exploit then?
Costa is not the only plant grower that has working conditions that most of us would refuse to work in. Just remember that Elected Politicians are taking lobby money every day. They wrote the bills that struck down protections for workers across all industries. Farm workers, factory workers, etc. Vote. Vote. Vote. ✌️
Thanks for sharing this!