For decades in the Salinas Valley, the short-handle hoe, known as “El Cortito,” was used for weeding and thinning rows of crops that kept farmworkers stooped over for long hours each day. Workers were only able to stand and stretch when they reached the end of a row, finishing each workday with stressed and strained spines. Over many years, the stoop labor was not only physically debilitating, often resulting in permanent back injuries, but also reflected a systemic disregard for the health of our farmworkers.

On June 10, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors will be commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the landmark legal case that ended the use of El Cortito and improved the health and safety of so many farmworkers across California. It remains a powerful reminder of what happens whe

See Full Page