California is mandating that food-industry companies give workers an additional two weeks of COVID-19 sick leave.

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that he was signing an executive order that would cover grocery stores, fast-food chains, delivery services, and farms.

"I want you to know you are not disposable; you are essential, and you are valued," Newsom said.

"With Gov. Newsom's executive order today, California became the leader in a new fight," Elizabeth Strater, an organizer with United Farm Workers, told Business Insider. "It's the first state to mandate expanded sick leave for farm workers during the COVID-19 crisis. We're looking to other progressive states, like Washington, and hoping to see them step up."

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California is making sure farm workers and employees at grocery stores, fast-food chains, and delivery services get two weeks of additional paid time off, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday.

The paid time off, mandated in a new executive order, is in addition to sick leave already provided by an employer. It pertains to full-time food-industry workers who are advised by a medical professional to self-quarantine over concerns related to COVID-19.

"I want you to know you are not disposable; you are essential, and you are valued," Newsom said in address on Periscope.

The order applies to essential retail businesses with more than 500 employees.

United Farm Workers, a labor union, praised the move.

"With Gov. Newsom's executive order today, California became the leader in a new fight," Elizabeth Strater, an organizer with UFW, told Business Insider. "It's the first state to mandate expanded sick leave for farm workers during the COVID-19 crisis. We're looking to other progressive states, like Washington, and hoping to see them step up."

Earlier in the day, the union filed a lawsuit against Washington — another agricultural powerhouse led by a Democrat, Gov. Jay Inslee — alleging that officials there are failing to protect farm workers from the threat of COVID-19, Business Insider first reported.

Ron Fong, the president of the California Grocers Association, was also supportive.

"We welcome the opportunity to partner with labor to ensure consistent standards to protect employees and shoppers and help prevent the spread of COVID-19," he said.

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