Activists Petition Costa Farms for Greenhouse Worker Heat Protections

On the day after Labor Day, a group of activists marched to a Costa Farms plant nursery in Leicester, North Carolina, to deliver a petition. The petition calls on Costa Farms, identified as the world's largest grower of indoor houseplants, to implement sufficient protections against extreme heat for its greenhouse workers. These protections include ensuring access to water, shade, and paid breaks. Oscar Rozo, an Episcopal clergy member and advocate for Spanish-speaking immigrants in Western North Carolina, was among the leaders of the activist group. He emphasized the workers' role within the community and the nursery industry's historical contribution to Asheville's economy. Workers within the steamy greenhouses, where plants were being prepared for sale, observed the activists but maintained their distance. The action was part of a multi-state campaign organized by WeCount, a worker-led labor and human rights organization. WeCount targeted five U.S. cities where Costa Farms operates nurseries. Oscar Londoño, co-executive director of WeCount, described the day as "historic" and indicated it was "only the beginning" of their advocacy efforts. Londoño had earlier helped deliver a similar petition to a Costa Farms nursery in Apotheke, Florida. Since 2021, WeCount has been advocating for outdoor workers who lack adequate protections from extreme heat. The organization, based in South Florida, previously campaigned for a municipal heat standard in Miami-Dade County. This county experiences an estimated 600% spike in deaths from heat exposure during extremely hot periods. However, these local efforts were curtailed in 2024 when industry groups raised objections, leading Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to pass a law preempting local governments from establishing their own heat standards. Governor DeSantis stated that such regulations could cause "a lot of problems." The petition delivered to Costa Farms highlights the growing concern over the health and safety of agricultural and horticultural workers exposed to dangerous heat conditions, particularly within enclosed greenhouse environments that can trap heat and humidity. The activists aim to leverage public awareness and worker solidarity to pressure large agricultural corporations like Costa Farms to adopt more robust heat mitigation strategies, aligning with broader movements for labor rights and workplace safety in the face of escalating global temperatures.