Orchard Owners in Washington Ordered to Pay $500,000 in Back Wages to Workers

The owners of two orchards in central Washington have agreed to pay $500,000 in back wages and interest to over 400 farmworkers, settling a lawsuit brought by the state attorney general's office. The orchard owners, Rene and Carmen Garcia, were accused of not paying fair earnings to their workers for the fruit they harvested. This settlement comes after a separate lawsuit in 2020 where the Garcias paid $240,000 in wages and damages to seven temporary workers. The settlement also includes requirements for the Garcias to provide payroll reports, conduct self-audits, and improve record-keeping practices.