One of the World’s Largest Apple Orchards Reaches a $2 Million Settlement Over Safety Violations
Gebbers Farm is Okanogan County is spending more than $2 million on worker protections to avoid paying $2 million in fines to Washington state.
The company is agreeing to improve its housing, health care and safety after being cited for the death of two of its farmworkers from COVID-19, and for not reporting a fatality.
The state says it found 24 egregious and willful violations for unsafe sleeping and transportation conditions for workers.
Gebbers operates one of the largest apple orchards in the world, and employs thousands of foreign guest workers under a visa program.
The workers are admitted to the United States under the international H-2A visa program.
The state Department of Labor & Industries says it reached a settlement with Gebbers following one of the largest workplace safety and health fines in Washington state history.
