Writer, Filmmakers Expose Plight Of Migrant Workers

The plight of the migrant farm worker is a sad reality of American agriculture. There are two new recent efforts (one book, one movie) that spotlight the day-to-day living and working conditions of the workers, which give us an important reminder of how the backbone of our farming system is run.

Tomatoland, by Barry Estabrook, traces the demise of the tomato's taste and quality through exploring cultivation practices of the Florida tomato (a crop that he discovers has no business being grown in Florida). A big part of Estabrook's research involved the workers who pick the crops. He learns that some of the workers are victims of modern-day slavery who are exposed to extremely dangerous pesticides and forced to live in unsanitary and unhealthy conditions.

The Harvest/La Cosecha (director: U. Roberto Romano, executive producer: Eva Longoria) profiles three children that help their parents earn money by harvesting crops such as strawberries, onions and tomatoes. As a result of working in the fields, their education suffers. According to the film, there are more than 400,000 migrant child workers in the United States. The film premieres in New York City on July 29 at the Quad Cinema and Los Angeles on August 5 at the Laemmle’s Music Hall 3. Additionally, The Harvest will be screened in up to 30 cities nationally following the theatrical release. Watch the trailer below.

Though Tomatoland and The Harvest offer a bleak display of the state, and fate, of the migrant worker, there are glimmers of light at the end of the tunnel. To learn more, see here and here.

Comments

[Martin Curiel]

04:23 PM on 08/16/2011

It's great that that farmworkers are being discussed. However, I have a difference in opinion on how we should help these people: See: http://www.rfdf.org/forum/topics/view/357

[crom14]

03:47 PM on 07/27/2011

This has torn at my heartstrings since I was a little girl. We would be out for a country drive and I would see the migrants working. The shacks that were all over the property still exist today that the migrants live in. What kind of a world would condone this?
My CSA hires friends and neighbors to pick.

[will dougherty]

01:24 AM on 07/27/2011

Unfortunately this is how migrant farm workers have been treated for decades. Is it right? No. But no one is forcing them come to this country to work.

[fishnetdiver]

04:20 AM on 07/27/2011

you do know that not all migrant workers are immigrants, right? come down here to Arkansas and head over to the rice and cotton fields and tell me how many of these southern white boys 'came to this country to work'.

[Max Shaw]

03:45 PM on 07/26/2011

Cant believe this is just being brought to light...unbelievably long overdue.

[Jeremyewilliams]

02:50 PM on 07/26/2011

It needs to be heard!

[Acemkr6]

02:01 PM on 07/26/2011

More liberal propaganda, Yawn!!!

[Max Shaw]

03:45 PM on 07/26/2011

...really? wow.

[Brian Novotny]

09:14 AM on 07/27/2011

Right Wing Terrorist

[Joann Vallo]

01:02 PM on 07/26/2011

You know, if this was a new situation, maybe I could understand nasty comments, but I see so much hate directed at these families and most of them have been here for generations. Should we stop the farmers and construction companies from encouraging new families to cross the borders or should we keep blaming the illegals who simply want a better life and were told that America is the land of opportunity. They are learning the hard way that it's only for light skinned people. I don't think the average American knows how many light skinned illegals that are from Europe that they live next to or stand next to in line at the grocery store or their children attend public school with.

[madcityy]

11:57 AM on 07/26/2011

dont work for bad farmers.....................put bad farmers in jaillllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

where is the president hidding on this issue?????????????????

[French Toast]

11:41 AM on 07/26/2011

So then go back to your respective countries. Let Big Ag suffer and real food prices set in.

I don't feel sorry for people breaking very basic laws. Big Ag loves to take advantage of their desperation. Stuff like this plays into that cynical machine.

It's a job Americans won't do? Wonderful. Guess the American diet will change.

[SoapboxKing]

11:52 AM on 07/26/2011

Nothing like getting a dose of humanity first thing in the morning.
Keep the good work up.

[romigua]

02:56 PM on 07/26/2011

Doooshbag