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West Michigan blueberry farm settles lawsuit with migrant workers for $200,000

Blueberries
Andrew Malone
/
Flickr
Blueberries

Lawyers for a group of migrant workers agreed to settle a lawsuit with a West Michigan blueberry farm for $200,000.

More than 300 blueberry farmers claim Blue Star Farms in Allegan County, which is about 40 minutes from Grand Rapids, never paid them fully during between 2011 and 2013 seasons.

The farm workers sued in 2016, but earlier this month Blue Star Farms agreed to settle.

A federal judge is expected to make the settlement agreement official in Grand Rapids on Wednesday.

Representatives from Blue Star Farms didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Each of the workers is expected to receive around $300. Lawyers for the workers declined to comment.

According to the court motion, the workers won’t be paid in full at one time. Instead, the farm workers will be paid over the course of a few years because Blue Star can’t afford to pay the entire $200,000 immediately.

Bryce Huffman was Michigan Radio’s West Michigan Reporter and host of Same Same Different. He is currently a reporter for Bridge Detroit.
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