American Farmworkers Can’t Afford Food in One of the Richest Countries in the World

American workers are in the midst of a massive hunger crisis. Here are the details.

The Ironic Appetite

You won’t believe who’s going hungry in the land of plenty – the very people who put food on your table. America’s farmworkers – the unsung heroes of our agricultural industry – are facing a hunger crisis.

Fields of Plenty, Tables of Scarcity

More and more farmworkers are struggling with food insecurity. Studies suggest that between 47% – 82% of farmworkers are struggling to eat healthy food regularly, and climate change is only making things worse. 

The Forgotten Link in Our Food Chain

“When we talk about supply chains and food prices going up, we are not thinking about the people who are producing that food, or getting it off the fields and onto our plates,” said Nezahualcoyotl Xiuhtecutli, an advocate fighting for farmworker rights.

Sowing Seeds of Struggle

It’s tough going on a farm. There are a lot of risks associated with farming, but workers also have to deal with being exploited by farmers. Many farmworkers are migrants who are particularly vulnerable to shady practices.

The Financial Squeeze

There are just under 2.5 million farmworkers in the US, and most don’t earn much money. The average family spends over $1,000 a month on food, but farmworkers often make only $20,000 a year. 

The Rising Tide of Food Prices

Food prices have gone up over 25% since 2019, and according to the Biden Administration, 44 million people in the US don’t have enough food, but farmworkers are particularly vulnerable. They’re practically invisible in the American political system.

The Invisible Crisis

Few people beyond the workers themselves understand that hunger is a major problem for this community. 

Cooking Up a Crisis

With climate change wreaking havoc on crops, farmworkers are facing a perfect storm of hunger. Extreme heat, floods, and hurricanes are destroying harvests, leaving farmworkers with less work and even less money to buy food.

Shut Out of the Safety Net

The issue is there’s hardly any help available for farmworkers. Many workers, especially the roughly 40% who are undocumented, can’t enroll in federal benefit programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP.) Even those who qualify are often too scared to apply, fearing deportation or other consequences.

A Patchwork of Support

Only six states give food help to farmworkers without papers.

Grassroots Efforts

Some organizations are stepping up to fill the gaps with food pantries, collaborative food systems, and community gardens across America. But it’s not enough to cover the millions of people in need, and with climate change intensifying and food prices skyrocketing, the situation is only getting worse. 

The Maths of Survival

Farmworkers often have to choose between paying rent, gas, bills, or buying food. And food often isn’t the priority on that list.

Year-Round Hunger

Farmworkers used to be hungriest in winter when there was less work. Now, because of climate change and higher prices, they’re hungry all year round. 

When It Rains, It Pours

Torrential rains and flooding – like in Massachusetts last September – devastate farmland and hit workers hard financially. 

Disaster Relief

Federal and state disaster assistance typically doesn’t support workers. If a farmworker with a temporary visa loses their job due to a disaster, they’re supposed to get up to 75% of their wages, but many of these workers never see a dime of this promised disaster relief. So, a lot of workers are left high and dry when they need support the most.

The Data Deficit

When COVID benefits ended, and food prices went up, millions more Americans fell into food insecurity. But there’s virtually no data on hunger rates among farmworkers, making it easy for politicians to ignore the problem. Without that data, it’s going to take a long time to see any change – although some experts believe this lack of information is intentional.

From Bad to Worse?

While this all sounds bad so far, it does get even more complicated. Lawmakers have been considering legislation that could make the situation even more dire. 

A Potential Hunger Game

The draft Farm Bill, put forward in May by the Republican-controlled House Agriculture Committee, would essentially repeal SNAP and strip away farmworker protections. Whether it will pass remains to be seen.

Food for Thought

Next time you eat, think about the farmworkers who harvested your food – they could be going hungry tonight.

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