Jensen Farms Faces U.S. Department of Labor Fine

Various news sources are reporting that Jensen Farms in Granada has been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division for inadequate living conditions at a motel owned by Eric Jensen and rented by him to migrant workers.

The Gateway Motel in Holly was deemed unfit by investigators under provisions of the Migrant and Seasonal Agriculture Workers Protection Act. The investigation determined that rooms were overcrowded and some had no beds; there were no laundry facilities available on site, windows would not open and there were no smoke detectors in some of the rooms. Investigators also noted that there was no phone listing for the motel and the facility is closed to the public most of the year, preventing everyday use of the motel by the general public.

Investigators said this fact negated the exemption which Eric Jensen claimed for the operation of the motel as an innkeeper. The U.S. Department of Labor fine is $4,250.

by Russ Baldwin