Farmworkers in Southwest Florida
Author: Roka, Fritz
Date Published: 1998
Farmworker estimates for southwest Florida have been variable. The 1988 Florida Institute of Government study estimated 8,000 farmworkers (no dependents) in southwest Florida. The study, "Farmworkers in Lee County," cited job services statistics for the 1992/3 season indicating 11,600 farmworkers in Collier, Lee and Hendry Counties. The Atlas of State Profiles and the Shimberg Center analysis included dependents in their estimates of farmworker populations in southwest Florida. The Atlas reported a total farmworker population n southwest Florida of almost 54,000, of which, almost 25,000 were migrant farmworkers and their accompanying dependents. The Shimberg estimate placed the regional migrant farmworker population alone to be slightly more than 31,000 people. The lack of consensus among the previous studies pushed community leaders to call for another study effort that simply focused on the southwest Florida farmworker population. A long term goal among migrant community leaders in southwest Florida is to improve the quality and quantity of farmworker housing. A reliable statistical description of the farmworker population could help draft future housing plans and guide the delivery of health, educational, and other public services. This paper reports the findings of that study effort. The study objectives were to collect data in the size and demographic features of the seasonal farmworker population in southwest Florida. Unlike the previous studies, this effort attempts to base farmworker population estimates more closely around the agricultural production activities. The next section of this report describes agricultural production in southwest Florida and presents some expectations of future developments. Section 3 develops estimates of the number of farmworkers in southwest Florida Both full-time and seasonal workers are considered. Section 4 presents demographic data of seasonal farmworkers. Section 5 combines the study results with other data sources to develop estimates of the farmworker population in southwest Florida.
Date Published: 1998
Farmworker estimates for southwest Florida have been variable. The 1988 Florida Institute of Government study estimated 8,000 farmworkers (no dependents) in southwest Florida. The study, "Farmworkers in Lee County," cited job services statistics for the 1992/3 season indicating 11,600 farmworkers in Collier, Lee and Hendry Counties. The Atlas of State Profiles and the Shimberg Center analysis included dependents in their estimates of farmworker populations in southwest Florida. The Atlas reported a total farmworker population n southwest Florida of almost 54,000, of which, almost 25,000 were migrant farmworkers and their accompanying dependents. The Shimberg estimate placed the regional migrant farmworker population alone to be slightly more than 31,000 people. The lack of consensus among the previous studies pushed community leaders to call for another study effort that simply focused on the southwest Florida farmworker population. A long term goal among migrant community leaders in southwest Florida is to improve the quality and quantity of farmworker housing. A reliable statistical description of the farmworker population could help draft future housing plans and guide the delivery of health, educational, and other public services. This paper reports the findings of that study effort. The study objectives were to collect data in the size and demographic features of the seasonal farmworker population in southwest Florida. Unlike the previous studies, this effort attempts to base farmworker population estimates more closely around the agricultural production activities. The next section of this report describes agricultural production in southwest Florida and presents some expectations of future developments. Section 3 develops estimates of the number of farmworkers in southwest Florida Both full-time and seasonal workers are considered. Section 4 presents demographic data of seasonal farmworkers. Section 5 combines the study results with other data sources to develop estimates of the farmworker population in southwest Florida.
