Guest column: A sustainable agriculture demands living wage for farmworkers
California, a powerhouse in the U.S. agricultural sector, has been a pivotal contributor, accounting for 11% to 14% of total farm production in the past decade. In 2022 alone, the state’s agricultural output passed $58 billion, with an additional $38 billion generated through interindustry connections and expenditures. This robust economic activity, surpassing $96 billion, not only created over 615,000 jobs but also contributed more than $15 billion in tax revenue.
Billions of dollars of profits have been made, and millions of families rely on our farmworkers for their food — a fact that became even more evident during the pandemic. These unsung heroes, our farmworkers, often are overlooked, undermined and cast aside as if we can have agriculture without them. Yet they persist, with 45% of the entire agriculture in California being products that California produces 80% or more for the nation. For many of these products, the entire production occurs in California, so much of what our farmers produce in the state is irreplaceable or complex to replace, underscoring the vital importance of our farmworkers.
If we look at what the future may bring, there is no doubt in any sound mind that producing food within the nation is the most reliable source. Protecting our agriculture may bring our support for international competition under question, another subject deserving of much elaborated short- and long-term analyses. Let us not forget that future challenges will come about through climate change, which is the core issue of such scrutiny and analysis. Strengthening our food production is far more critical, yet we must bear the pain of all harmful efforts against our farmworkers.
We have been taking advantage of our farmworkers for a very long time. Around 46% of farmworkers in California are undocumented immigrants, and this rate is far higher in counties with a greater focus on agriculture. In Santa Barbara County, the ratio of undocumented workers in agriculture reaches 80%, and the proportion in Ventura County is about 70%, based on the data produced for 2019 by the USC Center for Equity Research (California Immigrant Data Portal). More than 72% have been here for over 10 years, and around 31% have lived in the U.S. for over 20 years. Further, 39% do not have health insurance and 25% live below the poverty line. Their median wages in 2019 were $13 per hour compared to $26 for those born in the U.S. They are fearful of being deported every day. This condition makes it easy for those who hire them to take advantage and pay them less. It is hard to see and not believe that the industry is taking advantage of the situation and making billions of dollars of profits on the backs of our farmworkers.
The belief that increasing farmworkers’ wages would lead to significant cost increases is a misconception. This issue has been discussed and well argued in a recent report by CAUSE (Central Coast Alliance United for Sustainable Economy), “Harvesting Dignity: The Case for a Living Wage for Farmworkers.” Philip Martin, an agricultural labor economist and professor at UC Davis, predicts that if farmworker wages go up by 47%, household grocery bills would go up just $21.15 per year, or $1.76 per month.
The study dispels this myth and offers a glimmer of hope. It shows that farmworkers’ wages could be raised dramatically with minimal costs to consumers if significant distributors and retail brands paid higher wages for labor-intensive crops such as strawberries. These analyses and evidence show that agricultural corporations can pay workers a dignified, living wage at a negligible cost to the consumer. This not only dispels the myth that fair wages for farmworkers would be detrimental to the economy but also underscores the potential for positive change and fair compensation.
Let us be clear about a call to action as it may relate to industries that pay low wages and keep doing it as long as possible. However, we know that wages do not go up by reasoning, and market forces do not work when the labor force does not have the mobility to react to market forces. Undocumented immigrants accept the prevailing conditions and do not bargain when their existence is under threat of deportation.
Although undocumented immigrants are entitled to some provisions in a work environment like other workers, the possibility of exercising their rights is hard to imagine. There is no doubt that we need every possible measure that can effectively result in the integration of undocumented immigrants. The impact would be good for all.
Jamshid Damooei, Ph.D., is the executive director of the Center for Economics of Social Issues and director of the undergraduate economics program at California Lutheran University.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Sustainable agriculture demands living wage for farmworkers
