Cheap Food And Farm Workers Rights

As I was reading the book "Food inc." I came across an article by Arturo Rodriguez, the president of the United Farm Workers, a union which tries to fight for the rights of farm workers across the nation. From what he says, the conditions under which farm workers are forced to work are appalling. Not only the workers are paid much under the level of poverty (the official poverty level is 21.000$ a year, while an average farm worker will make about 13.000$ a year) but they are also forced to work in conditions like scorching heat, with no right to water and no shelter. They are often illegal immigrants, because no one in this country would accept to work in those conditions, who can't therefore complain or claim any rights or benefits or health care. Even those that are legal workers, have very few rights that are often not respected and very seldom enforced by the government. The working structure is purposefully convoluted, so that even if someone is to be fined or arrested, it is always the middle man and not the big brand that employed the people that were being exploited. In some cases workers were found living in a state of slavery, as they were being held against their will in isolation, forced to work all day long while being threatened of being harmed or reported to the authorities as illegal immigrants.

The logo of the United Farm Workers

Farm workers are exposed to pesticides all day long, not only because they have to apply the pesticides and handle the treated plants, but also because they often live near the fields where they work, thus affecting also their kids and families. Organic farming  at least reduces the use of pesticides, but that is not enough. Many organic, "earth-friendly" brands are the ones responsible of the biggest violations of workers' rights, and it is impossible for us to know who they are.The article offers the example of a wine producer, Bronco Wines, that supplies wine to Trader's Joe, that employed a sub-contractor to hire the workers to pick the grapes. Among them a 17 year old girl, Maria Isabel, who died of a heat stroke after working all day under the California sun without shelter or water. The only one who could be held responsible is the sub-contractor and not Trader's Joe who can pretend not to know how they can sell a cheap 1.99$ bottle of wine.


The website of the UFW offers a small list of labels that treat their workers fairly, but that is certainly not enough. The website also gives the possibility to sign a petition to limit the use of pesticides and other few petitions. One thing we can do is realize that "cheap food" usually comes at a price: a price that we pay with our health, with that of other people, the welfare of other animals and the preservation of the environment. 

"The average American family now spends less than ten percent of its income on food, the lowest percent in history. in 1950, this figure was twenty percent. As writer and grower David Mas Masumoto described it in a poem he presented at the 2008 Slow Food Festival, "I remember $2-a-box peaches in 1961 and $2-a-box peaches in 2007""(Food Inc. pg.128)

Maria Isabel, 17 yr old farm worker
who died of a heat stroke in the fields

Nothing really comes for free. We have to realize that this unreal low prices are paid for by other people suffering, by our own health declining, by our resources being polluted and depleted.
As for me and my quest, so far, the farmers' market seems like the best solution, at least I know I am buying from small family farmers. But what will I do in the winter? How will I know that I am not buying fruit that was picked by a modern slave? 

Another interesting issue is that of illegal immigration, an issue that is very heartfelt by many Americans. I found an interesting initiative called Take Our Jobs, that invite American citizens to work as farm workers and take the place of the illegal immigrants that are, as some would put it, "stealing their jobs and causing unemployment". Here is the text of the website:

TAKE OUR JOBS

There are two issues facing our nation--high unemployment and undocumented people in the workforce--that many Americans believe are related.

Missing from the debate on both issues is an honest recognition that the food we all eat - at home, in restaurants and workplace cafeterias (including those in the Capitol) - comes to us from the labor of undocumented farm workers.

Agriculture in the United States is dependent on an immigrant workforce. Three-quarters of all crop workers working in American agriculture were born outside the United States. According to government statistics, since the late 1990s, at least 50% of the crop workers have not been authorized to work legally in the United States.

We are a nation in denial about our food supply. As a result the UFW has initiated the "Take Our Jobs" campaign.

Farm workers are ready to welcome citizens and legal residents who wish to replace them in the field. We will use our knowledge and staff to help connect the unemployed with farm employers. Just fill out the form to the right and continue on to the request for job application.

** Job may include using hand tools such as knives, hoes, shovels, etc. Duties may include tilling the soil, transplanting, weeding, thinning, picking, cutting, sorting & packing of harvested produce. May set up & operate irrigation equip. Work is performed outside in all weather conditions (Summertime 90+ degree weather) & is physically demanding requiring workers to bend, stoop, lift & carry up to 50 lbs on a regular basis.

I would really like to know how many of the unemployed Americans are willing to take that kind of job.