First person: Journalist spends a day picking strawberries

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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