We live in a country with a $10 billion agricultural economy, made possible by the 3 to 5 million farmworkers employed in the fields.i Ironically, many of us only think about farmworkers when we see them laboring near highways, or when the immigration debate makes headlines. Yet, farmworkers are an integral and vital part of the United States’ agricultural economy and society at large. Their economic and socio-cultural contributions to the American fabric are often overlooked and ignored by many.

The next time you eat fruits and vegetables, remember the farmworkers who traveled thousands of miles and labored in the sweltering heat to provide the produce for your meal. The life of a farmworker is extremely challenging and physically demanding. Many farmworkers spend the bulk of their lives in the field, and consequently develop more severe health risks and have a lower life expectancy than average Americans. The subsequent sections of this web site provide more in-depth information on the farmworkers that feed our nation. Please click on the tabs to the left to learn more about our country’s farmworkers.

i - National Center for Farmworker Health. “Maternal and Child Health Fact Sheet.” (Buda, TX).