'4 On Your Side' Investigates Dangers At Pumpkin Fields [Video Included]

it's innocent fun .... who doesn't like carving pumpkins in october? or making warm pumpkin pie in november? "but have you ever wondered how these pumpkins got here? Who picked it off the vine and made sure it was here for you to enjoy? We did. And we found evidence that the men working on pumpkin fields here in New Mexico are getting sick, in one case dying because of deplorable conditions on those fields." "It's done in secret in a way sothat puts workers in a vulnerable position because they don't know who to turn to if they have concerns." chopper 4 flew over these pumpkin fields on the navajo nation just south of farmington.... its more than 2000 acres of farmland... and just to pick those pumpkins---500 men are recruited from around the state... mostly from tribal lands. all the workers live in this dormitory together... "people are working 7 days a week, 8-10 hours day , you know---sweat shop conditions basically, even though they are outside." tess wilkes is a legal advocate for the poor....she stands up for people like migrant farm workers who ordinarily wouldn't have a voice. "they tend to be group that is exploited because they are vulnerable." 4 ON your side obtained this report from indian health services, after two on-site inspections at the farm. they noted and photographed major problems at this camp. there was dirt, debris, algae and slime inside the workers' main water source. birds were getting into the showers and dropping feces all over the pipes... [...]