A Massachusetts pick your own farm was the subject of criticism over the last week after a Black couple claimed they were racially profiled and accused of stealing.
Manikka Bowman—vice chair of the Cambridge School Committee—and her husband Jeff Myers shared their story after they visited the Connors Farm in Danvers, Massachusetts. Due to six apples that didn't fit in their prepaid bag, they were assumed to be trying to steal by the security and management of the farm.
They also had to deal with police being called, all over six apples.
Bowman explained in a post her family had spent more than $100 on all-day admission to the farm, food and drink and a prepaid bag for apple picking. They also donated to the Connors Scholarship Foundation.
Being there with her small children, Bowman realized the kids had picked a few more apples than fit in the bag. She didn't think it would be an issue, as she planned to purchase them separately when she returned to the gift story to get apple cider donuts.
Before that could happen, she was stopped by security for the extra apples in her stroller. The security guard and other employees then searched her personal bags for other "concealed" fruits.
When it became clear the employees were accusing her of trying to steal, Bowman asked for the owner's contact information.
The employees responded by calling the police.
On Labor Day, my beautiful family experienced profiling and was accused of stealing apples and peaches @connorsfarm in Danvers, MA. \nPlease read the full account of our story.https://shoutout.wix.com/so/fcNl8D5Um?languageTag=en#/main\u00a0\u2026— Manikka Bowman (@Manikka Bowman) 1631151993
Excited small children pick a few apples above the bag limit and security at Connors Farm in Danvers accuses a family of stealing. Police are called. Over apples. One farm to avoid if POChttps://shoutout.wix.com/so/fcNl8D5Um?languageTag=en\u00a0\u2026— Peggy Hern\u00e1ndez (@Peggy Hern\u00e1ndez) 1631200354
I am so sorry this happened to you and your family. My husband and I were planning to take our daughter here this month for the first time. Given what you experienced, we will not be going to @connorsfarm— Nina Darby (@Nina Darby) 1631205276
Who spends 100 dollars on apple but then steals 6\u2026that makes no sense\u2026also even if the police felt like this couple was playing the race card you don\u2019t directly tell them that why are you thinking that way at allpic.twitter.com/LCwYh698Lq— JORDY(20) (@JORDY(20)) 1631211181
My family goes apple picking every year. We will definitely NOT go to Connors farm in Danvers.https://twitter.com/Peggy_Hernandez/status/1435984483841232898\u00a0\u2026— Daniel Glasser (@Daniel Glasser) 1631232816
Bowman said the officer who arrived was "tempered" but never seemed to take her side of the story seriously.
Instead, he sided with the employees and accused Bowman of "playing the race card" when she tried to defend herself from the accusation of theft.
After sharing their story, the family requested Connors Farm's owners apologize for the incident and how they were treated. They also requested the owners look into diversity training for their staff and refund the money Bowman paid and donate it to the Essex County Community Foundation to support their racial equity work.
In a Facebook post, the farm committed to diversity training, but didn't initially agree to the refund donation.
However, before that post, someone else with access to their social media account made a comment that referenced this incident, getting the Farm into another heaping of trouble.
The comment read:
"Just a friendly reminder that we reserve the right to inspect all backpacks, bags and strollers that exit our orchard."
The comment was deleted but the backlash eventually caused Connors Farm to private their page and it was still inaccessible as of this writing.
Strange someone there would double-down on this.
...was flooded with thousands of comments. Connors Farm said in the post it regrets the incident and has apologized to the family. I wonder what happen to the rent-a-cop and the manager that works for Connors Farm? Connor Farms needs to get their act together... quickly!— tgifrani (she/her) (@tgifrani (she/her)) 1631396293
Connors Farm in Danvers this morning: "... We reserve the right to inspect all backpacks, bags and strollers that exit our orchard." That post was later deleted\n\nThis afternoon: "We regret the incident...We have extended our personal apology to the family"https://www.bostonherald.com/2021/09/09/cambridge-family-accuses-danvers-farm-of-racial-profiling-while-apple-picking-after-employees-search-familys-bags-and-call-the-police/\u00a0\u2026— Rick Sobey \ud83d\udc68\ud83c\udffb\u200d\ud83d\udcbb (@Rick Sobey \ud83d\udc68\ud83c\udffb\u200d\ud83d\udcbb) 1631218653
The farm which is near my hometown doubled down on Facebook in response to community questions. A friend or staff member of theirs, who BTW had unpleasant memes re Freddie Grey on his timeline, continued the profiling in the comments. Eventually they deleted the whole post https://twitter.com/BostonGlobe/status/1436028648054738947\u00a0\u2026— peacevehicle (@peacevehicle) 1631216847
I am from New England and know there are plenty of orchards that do just fine without harassing or racially profiling their customers.— Every Day I\u2019m Waffling (@Every Day I\u2019m Waffling) 1631661713
We also acknowledge that the Connors Farm statement came after it made social media posts that were not sensitive to the seriousness of the moment. \n\nI'm glad you included this in your statement.— Dina Climate Change Voter \ud83c\udf0d (@Dina Climate Change Voter \ud83c\udf0d) 1631661414
In a later update, Bowman and Myers say they have received apologies from the town of Danvers and from the owners of Connors Farm. The Farm also made the commitment to them for mandatory racial equity training for their staff and to make the donation Bowman requested.
Hopefully, the owner's word is a little stronger than whoever made the comments on the Facebook page, and real change comes to the farm.
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