The US Department of Labor (DoL) has fined grower Humberto Castaneda Produce USD31,102 in back wages and USD18,154 in civil penalties having established numbers abuses of H2-A seasonal farmworkers employed at the farm. These included findings that the employer paid higher rates to workers with H2-A visas than to local workers, failed to provide tools, meals or kitchen facilities to workers, housed workers in "dilapidated trailers" and did not reimburse inbound and outbound transportation costs. The employer also had not secured safe transportation, used uncertified drivers who did not have licenses, and paid workers below the promised rate on their contract.

The US DoL press release said Humberto Castaneda Produce suppliers to large clients including Safeway supermarkets. Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited Albertsons, Safeway owner, to:

1. Respond to the findings of the investigation and workers’ allegations of abusive working and living conditions;
2. Disclose the steps it has taken to investigate and remedy supply chain workers for the abuse reported; and,
3. Disclose any human rights due diligence it undertakes prior to entering into contracts with suppliers and when monitoring working conditions at suppliers, including Humberto Castaneda Produce.

Albertsons did not respond.