Interviews

Michael Del Ciancio speaks to Molly Thomas a reporter with CTV News about migrant worker living conditions and policies on the farms. When the pandemic began, DC Farms set up all employees on direct deposit payroll and provided support for online banking apps. It was important to reduce employee exposure to the general public as COVID-19 cases were on the rise in Windsor-Essex County. DC Farms encouraged employees to make fewer trips off the farm where possible, this applied to migrant and Canadian employees the same. "I am encouraging them to try to keep it tight within our own little family, just like I would for my wife and parents."

https://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2009842

A Kingsville, Ontario greenhouse grower of roma tomatoes and eggplant has rolled up his sleeves to protect his 15 temporary foreign workers and four domestic staff from COVID-19.  Michael Del Ciancio has spared no expense in personal protective equipment, training and posters translated into Spanish. 

He’s gone beyond that to bare his heart to the local media. His perspective is unique, given the strains in the Windsor-Essex region between urban and rural jurisdictions such as Kingsville and Leamington over the timing of re-opening the economy. When all of his workers tested negative, he noticed that their shoulders dropped a bit in relief. 

On July 16, he gave a 10-minute interview to CBC Radio Windsor detailing the roller-coaster ride of managing his business in recent weeks.

https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-106-windsor-morning/clip/15787419-small-farm-owner