Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam's Family Farm Business Broke Labor Laws In Workers' Pay

WLRN 91.3 FM | By Steve Bousquet

Published April 20, 2018 at 11:44 AM EDT

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam waves to motorists along Main Street in Bartow in May 2017.

Republican candidate for governor Adam Putnam’s family citrus business in Polk County was cited a decade ago by the U.S. government for workplace violations, including failing to pay fruit pickers the minimum wage.

U.S. Department of Labor records show that Putnam Groves of Bartow was ordered to pay back wages of $1,634.72 to four workers who were paid less than the minimum wage in 2008, which was $6.79 an hour at the time.

Records indicate the company was assessed a civil penalty of $250 for not disclosing employment conditions to workers and not keeping employer records, according to a federal compliance report.

Putnam’s campaign said Thursday that the $250 penalty was dismissed, and released a letter dated April 8, 2008, that said: “No penalties are being assessed as a result of this investigation.”