KCBA - Monterey, Salinas, Santa Cruz - News Weather-Salinas Latino Farmers Accuse USDA Of Discrimination

Salinas Latino Farmers Accuse USDA Of Discrimination

SALINAS, Calif. - The U.S. Department of Agriculture is facing charges of discrimination and the charges are coming from local farmers.

The Latino Farmers claim they were wiped out of business after flooding ruined their crops in the 1990's. They also claim, however, the USDA didn't help them recover, while they did offer assistance to white farmers.

John Carrillo, who's father built a family business in Salinas, said he was one of the farmers who asked for help after the 1995 floods. "I was denied 3 times," said Carrillo.

He wasn't alone. Hundreds of Latino farmers from across the country also claimed they were denied. For many, it cost them their life-long dream and forced them out of business. In response, they filed a compaint known as The Garcia Case. It charges the government with descrimination, however, the case has stalled in court for nearly a decade.

"The original defendant in this case, Secretary Glickman, has admitted in testimony before Congress that good people lost their farmland not because of bad weather, not because of bad crops, but because of the color of their skin," said Stephen Hill, the attorney representing the Latino farmers.

Other minority groups, including Native American, African American and Women farmers, have also filed class action lawsuits against the USDA. The governoment, however, has only settled with the black farmers, despite the cases being identical, said Hill.

According to Hill, the only difference between the two cases are that the black farmers were certified to fight as a group. The court, however, has not yet granted Latino Farmers class action status.

The USDA won't comment on the case.