Food And Labor, Farmer Worker Food Insecurity

Food And Labor, Farmer Worker Food Insecurity

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The issue of food and labor brings an ironic situation in the industry where forces focus more on the food's sustainability but ignore the labor rights behind the production. I believe it is unfair that a food movement can focus on food sustainability and not question the health and wellbeing of the farm workers and the labor behind the food processing. Reading through the book makes me rethink the history of black people in the United States and see how the purported inequality does not exist. When it comes to farm labor, it is unfortunate that the racial aspects still contribute to how farm labor is distributed. There is a culture in the United States where people believe in cheap labor. Unfortunately, this kind of labor targets immigrants and people of color who must cope with the misfortunes that befall them in a foreign country. Technically, labor laws are expected to protect everyone in their different forms of employment. However, federal laws and most states deny farm workers important labor rights such as overtime pay and the right to day rest. The lack of legal rights and protections is the foundation of the exploitation and oppression of farm workers. The conditions of the farm workers make it impossible for them to live better lives in the country. 

There is an unfortunate situation that farm workers suffer food insecurity when they are the immediate people who cultivate and produce the food distributed to the rest of the population. Food insecurity and farm workers contradict each other, although the country is in a sad state of affairs. The people who produce the food in the country are the most likely to suffer hunger and food insecurity. The review of experiences and misfortunes of farm workers across the country leaves me wondering about our direction as a country. While we strive to fight inequality and discrimination, I today find it offensive and deceptive that the government fails to acknowledge such serious exploitation of minority populations. For instance, I am especially heartbroken by the statement from the book that “The union’s struggles to improve agricultural wages and working conditions mobilized white, middle-class urban consumers to support a primarily immigrant workforce, in particular through union-led boycotts.” As if that is not enough, the findings from the study indicate that the improvements in the material conditions of the farm workers failed to materialize and that the issue of food insecurity and hunger remains a major issue within the farmworker community. 

I believe it is high time the government and food industry agencies focus on farmworkers' issues. The cabinet secretary of the docket related to the food industry and labor rights should work together to fight for the wellbeing of the farm workers. I think the next time I encounter a picketing session on Black Lives Matter, I might join and add the issue of farmworker rights to their bucket list of grievances. This is because the movement, although it tags the black communities, fights for the rights of every individual from the minority population. It is high time the entire society becomes aware that the people behind the food we eat are the most oppressed and vulnerable members of society. There is a need to advocate for their working conditions and food security, to appreciate their contribution to the agriculture industry and the food supply and sustainability in the country.