The millions of farmworkers living and working across the country are uniquely vulnerable to coronavirus due to a variety of factors that make it difficult to practice social distancing and receive healthcare. Their exposure to coronavirus is exacerbated by the fact that farmworker communities have continued to work tirelessly growing and harvesting food for all of us to eat throughout the pandemic. Despite this, state, local and federal government officials have failed to provide adequate support to farmworker communities.
In light of the aid gap facing farmworker communities at this critical time, numerous grassroots organizations have stepped up to the plate to help address farmworkers’ needs. We expect such ground-up relief efforts will only become more necessary as the government’s coronavirus response continues to fall short and farmworkers begin to migrate as the seasons change. We spoke with leaders from some of these organizations and compiled key learnings and best practices that advocates and communities across the country can look to for guidance on how to help farmworkers during coronavirus.
Additionally, we tested voter attitudes around improving farmworker working conditions and providing targeted coronavirus relief aid for farmworkers. We found that both are extremely popular among likely voters.
COMPONENTS:
Guidebook: Best Practices To Support Farmworkers During Coronavirus
Polling Memo: Voters Support the Fair Food Program and Coronavirus Relief for Farmworkers