Rest Breaks & SNAP Support

Rest Breaks & SNAP Support plus Food Forethought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report.

We all need a bit of a rest break during our work day but recently this issue has had some problems when it comes to piece rate workers. Dan Fazio with the Washington Farm Labor Association describes the issue.

FAZIO: A suit was filed in Washington alleging piece rate farm workers were not provided with rest breaks. The case is seeking class action status but they're asking that workers be compensated for 20 minutes a day because workers were not allowed to take rest breaks. We know that the law requires agricultural workers to take 2 paid 10 minute rest breaks, once in the morning and once in the afternoon and I think most employers allow that to happen.

The White House has released a new report highlighting the importance of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which helps millions of Americans put food on the table. SNAP, which has been authorized in bipartisan fashion in the Farm Bill for decades, has been one of our nation's strongest defenses against hunger and poverty while also benefitting farm and rural economies. The report says while the President's budget protects this vital program, legislation passed by House Republicans would make deep, harmful cuts that would make it harder for millions of Americans who are already struggling to put food on the table.

Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Lacy Gray.

Okay I'll admit it, I'm one of those people who have a tendency to wait till the last minute to do my Thanksgiving dinner grocery shopping. I know, it's crazy but I just can't bring myself to face the crowd and the inevitable drain on my pocketbook any sooner than I absolutely have to. This year economists are saying that some prices for the traditional fare of a Thanksgiving dinner are going to be higher and some are going to be lower. I did manage to snag a turkey early on that I didn't have to take out a second mortgage to be able to afford, so I am in a better frame of mind to do the rest of my holiday meal shopping. I think this year we will be sticking to the traditional basics of the Thanksgiving dinner such as turkey, stuffing, potatoes and gravy, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole and pumpkin pie, instead of trying out any new gourmet food dishes, that while they would undoubtedly be delicious, would more than likely use up most of the budget for the holiday dinner as well as dinners for the next two weeks. And this year I'm definitely going to try and cook for the number of guests that will actually be attending, instead of the army I usually cook for that never seems to show up.

Thanks Lacy. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.