Once the pine straw is pristine, they rake it into loose piles. The mounds dotting this field are six feet tall, pitchforks and gloves balanced at their edges. After raking, the bare forest floor ...

Pine straw is generally harvested from agroforestry ... long pine needles love to intertwine themselves among the holly spines. Trying to rake the leaves out of the mulch can be more infuriating ...

Crews disproportionately made of young, Mexican men bale pine straw by hand. They're not always fairly compensated.