First person: Journalist spends a day picking strawberries - Los Angeles Times
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First person: Journalist spends a day picking strawberries

Los Angeles Times writer Hector Becerra picks boxes of strawberries alongside workers in a Santa Maria, Calif., strawberry field.

Los Angeles Times writer Hector Becerra picks boxes of strawberries alongside workers in a Santa Maria, Calif., strawberry field.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Hector Becerra finds kindness and camaraderie with the Mexican immigrants picking strawberries. But he also falls far behind them as his back tightens and his muscles burn.
Read more: A day in the strawberry fields seems like forever

Santa Maria, Calif., strawberry field

Domingo Suarez, center, carries a box full of strawberries as he works alongside other workers in Santa Maria, Calif.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Team work

Los Angeles Times reporter Hector Becerra, left, is instructed by foreman Antonio Lopez, right, on how to pack a box of strawberries.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Product

Los Angeles Times writer Hector Becerra packs strawberries into a clamshell box right after picking them.   (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Covering up

Noemi Lopez, 21, left, covers her skin to protect against the elements as she prepares to pick strawberries.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Strawberry fields forever

Mauro Ortiz carries a box full of strawberries as he works alongside other workers.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Moving platform

Working on a moving platform, Phillip Sanchez carries and sorts boxes of strawberries freshly picked for Dole Foods.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Big job

Los Angeles Times writer Hector Becerra carries a box of strawberries he picked.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Worms eye view

Noemi Lopez, 21, picks strawberries as she works alongside other workers in Santa Maria, Calif.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Boxing them up

Foreman Antonio Lopez, left, talks with Maria Huitron, right, about boxes of freshly picked strawberries.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Dole foods

Domingo Suarez, center, carries a box of strawberries picked for Dole Foods.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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