PORTLAND (AP) — The federal government has sued a Maine farm alleging that it allowed male workers to sexually harass women hired as seasonal harvesters.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said in its lawsuit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Portland that female employees at County Fair Farm in Jefferson were subjected to unwanted sexual propositioning, groping, and that farm management ignored their complaints.

An attorney for the commission’s regional office in Boston told the Portland Press Herald (http://bit.ly/1vLP4q7 ) that an attempt to settle the matter out of court failed.

The suit seeks back pay for the affected workers as well as compensation for emotional pain and suffering, and punitive damages.

A woman who answered the phone at the farm said the owner was unavailable to comment.