The University of New Mexico recently held a series of events as part of Farmworker’s Awareness Week to shed light on the challenges faced by farmworkers and the importance of their contributions to the food system. El Centro de la Raza, College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), and other campus organizations organized various activities to raise awareness and educate the community about the realities of farm work.
Rodolfo Becerril, El Centro de la Raza Student Success Specialist, emphasized the goal of bringing awareness to the challenges and situations that farmworkers face, stating, “Each activity provides an opportunity for us to highlight farmworkers around the country and the importance of them and our food system as well.” The week included musical performances, educational activities, movie screenings, seed planting, and free produce, all aimed at sharing information and highlighting the struggles farmworkers endure.
Brenda Ramirez, High School Equivalency Program Senior Student Success Specialist, highlighted the importance of acknowledging the student population from farming communities and the need to raise awareness about their experiences. Ramirez shared, “We wanted to make sure that we highlight our student population on campus... It made sense to start bringing awareness of what we were going through while we were working in the summers. We had to bring that information to UNM.”
Gisselle Martinez, a CAMP student, shared her personal experience as a farmworker, expressing pride in her work and the opportunity to share her story with others. Martinez emphasized the significance of informing people about the origins of the produce they consume, stating, “I'm very proud to share my story and share who I am with others. I'm very proud to inform people that where I work is where produce is coming from.”
The challenges faced by farmworkers, including low wages and poor working conditions, were also highlighted during the awareness week. Dannely Verduzco, El Centro de la Raza Student Success Leader, recalled the difficulties faced by farmworkers, stating, “It’s not great pay, and you're doing a lot of hard work... It’s hard to work there because of the pay, but also our culture is so strong.”
In addition to advocating for fair pay and better working conditions, the awareness week addressed issues of sexual harassment faced by female farmworkers. Ramirez shared insights into the realities of working in the fields, where women often have to navigate unsafe environments and unequal treatment. Martinez also reflected on the challenges of inadequate facilities and the lack of basic necessities while working in the fields.
Overall, the efforts of UNM organizations during Farmworker’s Awareness Week aimed to not only raise awareness of the struggles faced by farmworkers but also to celebrate their contributions to the food system. The call for greater understanding and support for farmworkers, especially in terms of fair compensation and improved working conditions, remains a crucial focus for advocates like Becerril, who believes that sharing these stories is essential for building a more informed and compassionate