Heatstroke ruined his health. Years before, it took the life of another farm worker at the same company
An investigation reveals that a farm labor contractor continues to employ migrant workers despite a history of heat-related health incidents. The report highlights the case of a worker who suffered permanent disability from heatstroke while working in North Carolina.
Why it matters
The story underscores the lack of federal heat safety standards for agricultural workers and the ongoing risks faced by migrant laborers.
Daisy Sahara Romero and Carlos Vargas Moreno inside their home in Raleigh, North Carolina, on 18 September 2026. Daisy Sahara Romero and Carlos Vargas Moreno inside their home in Raleigh, North Carolina, on 18 September 2026. Our unequal earth North Carolina Heatstroke ruined his health. Years before, it took the life of another farm worker at the same company A farm labor contractor exposed laborers on H-2A agricultural visas to heat-related health hazards, but is still bringing hundreds of migrant farm workers to North Carolina
About this content Tina Vasquez with photographs by Kaoly Gutierrez Wed 7 Oct 2026 12.00 BST Share It was 4pm and 90F (32C) when Carlos Vargas Moreno and other farm workers set out to weed a watermelon field in Goldsboro, North Carolina , on 19 July 2022.
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