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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)

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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