Article:Farm workers found living in Calif. cherry orchard

(05-10) 13:49 PDT SHAFTER, CA (AP) --

Farm labor organizers say they have discovered more than 100 migrant fruit pickers living in a Central Valley cherry orchard where they have been sleeping outdoors and bathing in drainage ditches.

United Farm Workers representatives say they found the men, women and teenagers camping in the orchards west of Shafter on Thursday.

Union organizer Armando Elenes says many of the workers traveled from Washington state at the request of Wenatchee, Washington-based Stemilt Growers Inc.

The company denies involvement, but public records show that a partner in the company owns the land.

The workers are upset at being evicted because they say they have no money to rent rooms.

Elenes says the union is trying to find them housing.

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Information from: The Bakersfield Californian, www.bakersfield.com