Farmworkers in California
Author: Bugarin, Alicia
Date Published: 1998
California is the nation's largest agricultural state. It produces more than 250 different crops valued at nearly $25 billion. California farmers are changing their crops to respond to consumer demand, producing more fresh vegetables, fruits and nuts. These high valued-added crops require more labor. During 1996, California produced nearly 14 million tons of fruit and nuts and 20 million tons of vegetables. This was more than half of the total U.S. production. A change in the structure of the agricultural industry is under way, as small farms are consolidated into fewer, bigger farms. Larger farms often grow a variety of crops over a longer season, providing extended periods of work for farmworkers. Finally, large numbers of recent immigrants from Mexico, Central America and Asia, many with low educational skills, provide a ready labor force. These trends interact to mean that more farmworkers than ever are working in California, and that many are working for longer periods of time in one area, some as residents. Notably, around 55% of the state's agricultural workers are employed in the San Joaquin Valley. Although farmworkers play a significant role in one of the state's most important industries, their working conditions are difficult: low earnings, poor or no health benefits, substandard housing, physically taxing and sometimes unsafe work conditions, and long hours. Four-fifths of U.S. farmworkers earn less than $10,000 per year. Farmworker income is greatly affected by weather and crop conditions which can delay work in the fields. Testimony provided by farm workers, local housing and health care officials, farm worker advocacy groups and others revealed a broad range of concerns and areas of need which have long existed. These include insufficient affordable housing, health and safety problems, low educational attainment, lax enforcement of existing labor laws, and lack of information about and poor access to social services.
Date Published: 1998
California is the nation's largest agricultural state. It produces more than 250 different crops valued at nearly $25 billion. California farmers are changing their crops to respond to consumer demand, producing more fresh vegetables, fruits and nuts. These high valued-added crops require more labor. During 1996, California produced nearly 14 million tons of fruit and nuts and 20 million tons of vegetables. This was more than half of the total U.S. production. A change in the structure of the agricultural industry is under way, as small farms are consolidated into fewer, bigger farms. Larger farms often grow a variety of crops over a longer season, providing extended periods of work for farmworkers. Finally, large numbers of recent immigrants from Mexico, Central America and Asia, many with low educational skills, provide a ready labor force. These trends interact to mean that more farmworkers than ever are working in California, and that many are working for longer periods of time in one area, some as residents. Notably, around 55% of the state's agricultural workers are employed in the San Joaquin Valley. Although farmworkers play a significant role in one of the state's most important industries, their working conditions are difficult: low earnings, poor or no health benefits, substandard housing, physically taxing and sometimes unsafe work conditions, and long hours. Four-fifths of U.S. farmworkers earn less than $10,000 per year. Farmworker income is greatly affected by weather and crop conditions which can delay work in the fields. Testimony provided by farm workers, local housing and health care officials, farm worker advocacy groups and others revealed a broad range of concerns and areas of need which have long existed. These include insufficient affordable housing, health and safety problems, low educational attainment, lax enforcement of existing labor laws, and lack of information about and poor access to social services.
