Editor’s note: In the production of fruit and vegetable crops, 49.6% of the workforce is made up of immigrants, and 24.3% of the workforce is made up of undocumented immigrants. These workers play an essential role
Editor’s note: In the production of fruit and vegetable crops, 49.6% of the workforce is made up of immigrants, and 24.3% of the workforce is made up of undocumented immigrants. These workers play an essential role in our nation’s food supply, but their future in the U.S. remains uncertain as the incoming Trump administration ncoming Trump administration implements plans for a mass deportation of undocumented and documented immigrants, such as asylum seekers and those with Temporary Protected Status. Farmworkerjustice.org
In honor of these workers, we print Francisco’s experience of his years of work in the fields. As a reminder that without these workers we would not enjoy their fruit and vegetable crops. Thank you Francisco, to you and to all who work in the fields. No mass deportations.
In 1974 I arrived in Planada, California to the “C.P.C.” -an agricultural company where I learned farm work. For six years I worked at this company as part of different crews, of which 70 to 80% were undocumented. At least once a week, “the immigration” would come to this company to catch and take out of this country those who did not have documents. At the beginning of 1981, I began to work at Ballico, where, through experience, I had the opportunity to be in charge of directing crews. On this ranch, the crews were made up of 80 to 90 percent undocumented.
I think that in 1992, the governor of California, Pete Wilson, put into effect the law of not giving work to all undocumented people. On the ranch, they stopped all people without green cards. This lasted between three to five weeks. The farm work was affected by the lack of personnel. We filled the vacancies again just by showing us a social security card, a green card, and that’s how we filled out Form I-9.
I have gained a lot of experience working in this Central Valley of California. I have realized that undocumented labor has been an important factor in California’s agriculture and the economy.
