We all love fresh fruits and veggies– but what do you know about the people who grow and harvest them? This November, Novel Hand is exploring the labor issues and environmental hazards that migrant farmworkers face.
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Articles written by Ari Leventhal
Migrant Farmworkers: How Can You Get Involved?
Migrant Farmworkers: Up Close and Personal
Who Are Migrant Farm Workers, and What Do They Face?
Who Grows Your Fruits and Vegetables? Impactfull November 2021
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The U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, unveiled in February by Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., and Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., would make qualifying farmworkers immediately eligible for green cards, allowing them to apply for citizenship after three years instead of the current eight-year path to citizenship. It would transform the U.S. immigration system for all immigrants regardless of status, and with a Democratic majority in the U.S. House and Senate, paired with a president who has delivered a proposal for immigration reform, now is the time to take action.
Sign this petition to show your support for this act and help make a change.
FIVE MINUTES
Read this brief put forth by Farmworker Justice addressing the possibility of a new “guestworker program” between Mexico and the United States.
As the temperature in the summer continues to rise and climate change continues to cause record-breaking temperatures, it is imperative to support farmworkers. There are immense health risks to farmworkers who are in the fields during these high temperatures. A new bill, the Asuncion Valdivia Heat Illness and Fatality Prevention Act, would require employers to provide the basics to prevent heat-related illness: shelter, water, training, and additional rest breaks.
Send an email to urge members of Congress to pass the heat regulation bill.
Buy from companies that are committed to fair labor practices, living wages and bargaining rights for farmworkers. The Agricultural Justice Project (AJP) has created the Food Justice Certification which sets strict standards for the above issues. Buying from smaller businesses who are certified in similar standards is also a sustainable option.
- Soul Fire Farm – Petersburg, NY
- GreenStar Natural Foods Co-op – Ithaca, NY
- Pie Ranch – Pescadero, CA
- Swanton Berry Farm – Davenport, CA
- The Family Garden/Browns Organic Farm – Gainesville, FL
