In a surprise move this week, Governor Gavin Newsom lifted shelter-in-place orders for our part of the state, even as San Joaquin Valley residents continue to die of COVID-19 by the hundreds each week. The decision came as a surprise to health officials in at least Fresno County, who said …
Read More »Journalists Investigate Why So Few Farmworkers With COVID-19 Isolate In Free Hotels
In an effort to assist farmworkers who test positive for COVID-19, California launched the Housing for the Harvest program. It provides free hotel rooms so farmworkers can self-isolate and not infect family members. But a recent investigation found that of the 800,000 farmworkers in California, only around 80 have utilized …
Read More »UC Merced Acquires Photo Collection Documenting Farmworkers In The 1960s
Images captured by photographer Ernest Lowe tell the story of Central Valley farmworkers and the activists who fought for improved conditions in the 1960s. Last year UC Merced hosted an exhibition of some of those photographs, and now has acquired the complete collection – which the university has made available …
Read More »COVID-19 Affects Farmworkers’ Livelihood in the San Joaquin Valley
The spread of COVID-19 is forcing many people to work from home, but for farmworkers that’s not an option. Take Eucebia and Alejandro; the couple asked to go by their first names only. They have three kids and no savings. In the past two weeks, they’ve been asked to leave …
Read More »Industry Groups And The UFW Applaud Bipartisan Bill To Give Farmworkers Legal Status
Legislation proposed Wednesday in the U.S. House of Representatives aims to give undocumented farmworkers more protections. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act will provide undocumented workers a path to legal residency, and for those who want it, citizenship. Several congressional representatives helped introduce the bill including many from the Valley: Rep. …
Read More »Could Robots Replace Farmworkers In Valley Fields? Silicon Valley Hopes So
Let’s face it farmers are usually slow to change their practices for a couple reasons. Change usually comes with a high price tag – a new tractor can cost a half million dollars. And farmers want to minimize risk by only investing in things that have been successfully tested and …
Read More »New Book Documents Farmworkers’ Oral Histories
A new book aims to document the stories of valley farmworkers through oral histories. It’s the project of editor and independent journalist Gabriel Thompson, and features interviews with dozens of people who have spent their lives working in the fields of California. The book is called “Chasing The Harvest” and …
Read More »UC Merced Connect: Research on Oregon farmworkers started with family
When UC Merced Professor Mario Sifuentez was a graduate student, he didn’t have to look far to find a subject to research; members of his family had been migrant workers … Click to Continue »
Read More »Farmworkers remember historic Delano-to-Sacramento march 50 years ago
Seventeen people who marched the entire distance are still alive U.S. Department of Labor secretary sent letter of commendation to each marcher The march almost didn’t happen when police blocked the way … Click to Continue »
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