For generations, farm workers have helped feed our nation while being excluded from many of the workplace protections other workers rely on. These exclusions have shaped not only wages and working conditions, but also farm worker health, safety, and dignity.
In recognition of World Food Day, National Farm Worker Ministry brought together historical expertise and farm worker-led organizing perspectives to explore how these exclusions began, why they continue to matter, and how farm workers are organizing for change.
Whether you joined us live or are discovering this conversation for the first time, we invite you to watch the replay, explore the resources, and learn alongside us.
Highlights From Our Speakers
During this webinar, we heard from experts in farm worker history and worker-led organizing who explored how decades of exclusion from labor protections have shaped working conditions, health, and safety. Together, their perspectives connected the history of these exclusions to the challenges farm workers face today and the ongoing efforts to create meaningful change.
- Dr. José Luis Martinez | University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Explored more than a century of farm worker history, including the exclusion of agricultural workers from landmark federal labor laws, the political and racial forces behind those decisions, and historical working conditions that continue to shape conversations about farm worker rights and health. - Gerardo Reyes Chavez | Coalition of Immokalee Workers
Shared how farm workers have organized to challenge exploitation and improve working conditions through the Fair Food Program, a worker-driven approach that establishes workplace standards, education, monitoring, and accountability. - Marcos Martins | Coalition of Immokalee Workers
Highlighted how faith communities, consumers, and community partners can support farm worker-led campaigns and help expand workplace protections through collective action.
Frequently Asked Questions
The conversation raised important questions about the relationship between labor protections, farm worker health, and worker-led organizing. Explore these four questions to better understand the challenges farm workers face, the solutions they’re building, and how we can support their efforts.
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More from the Webinar
Explore the presentations and additional questions shared during our World Food Day webinar.
- Farm Worker Labor History – slides prepared by Dr. José Luis Martinez
- Farm Worker-Led Organizing – slides prepared by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers
Learn More & Take Action
Explore the resources below to see how gaps in labor and workplace protections affect farm worker health, safety, and well-being, and learn more about the work for change.
- Mental Health & Well-Being in Farm Worker Communities
Learn how working conditions and access to care shape farm worker mental health and well-being. - Heat Stress and Farm Worker Health
Explore how extreme heat affects farm workers and the fight for meaningful heat protections. - The Impact of Substandard Housing on Farm Worker Health
Learn how unsafe and unstable housing conditions contribute to long-term health challenges. - Pesticide Exposure in Farm Worker Communities
Understand the health risks tied to chemical exposure and ongoing efforts to strengthen protections.
