This past week we celebrated Farmworker Awareness Week. Coordinated by the organization Student Action with Farmworkers and in collaboration with many other farmworker-focused organizations, this is a week of action for students and community members to honor farmworkers' important contributions and raise awareness about the issues they face.

Farmworkers are critical to our economy and food supply. Almost 85% of our fruits and vegetables are picked by hand by an estimated 2.5-3 million farmworkers, many of whom work under dangerous and vulnerable conditions.

We use Farmworker Awareness Week to put farmworkers at the forefront. This year's theme was "Things Are Heating Up for Workers," and it refers to the increasingly harmful effects of climate change and our country's political climate on workers, especially farmworkers. 

Please take some time to read through our social media posts on how climate change and the lack of a pathway to citizenship impact farmworkers, and you can take action to support farmworkers using the links below.

Ask your US Congress members to support the new national heat regulation bill.

Tell The President: End Illegal and Inhumane Immigration Policies

Ask your senator, "What are you doing to ensure immigration reform?"

2023 is going by so fast this year! Here is a quick summary of what the Food Justice Program team has been up to from January to now.

In January, we attended the NOFA NJ Winter Conference. We expanded our minds with the various educational workshops on different topics such as Processing Medicinal Herbs, Empowering Youth in Food System Work, Seeds of our Ancestors, and Eating for Personal and Planetary Health. In addition, we offered Spanish language interpretation for some of them.

Throughout the conference, we had the chance to connect with and meet folks from across New Jersey who work in and support organic agriculture. In addition, our youth leaders spoke about and sold a few Mexican marigold salves that we created using marigolds from our garden.

Following the conference, we went to the Philadelphia Flower show and felt inspired by the unique ways to arrange flowers and produce stunning displays with different themes. That same day, we had the chance to learn about the importance of pruning and the types of cuts with the Philadelphia Orchard Project's fruit tree pruning workshop, which was entirely in Spanish. Overall, we feel energized by these events and are ready for the growing season!

Join the community garden volunteer day on April 1, 2023, from 8 AM – 12 PM at 80 Church St. Bridgeton NJ. Snacks and drinks will be provided. For more information, call 856-575-5511.

It was a warm, sunny day in central Florida – a perfect day for a celebration. And it was with a warm reception that the Farm Worker Association of Florida (FWAF) staff welcomed participants to Apopka, Florida, on March 5, 2023, to celebrate their 40th Anniversary in the struggle for social justice.

Attendees came from far and near to FWAF’s 8th General Assembly to recognize their accomplishments over the past four decades. A CATA contingent, including Lead Organizer José Manuel Guzmán, Administrator Marge Niedda, PR/Communications Manager Diana Mendez, and former FHSI Executive Director Teresa Niedda, attended the event. Those attending included the Food Chain Workers Alliance, Agricultural Justice Project, university faculty, elected officials, and many others.

The program commenced with welcoming remarks from the FWAF board president and FWAF’s General Coordinator, Nezahualcoyoti Xiuhtecutli. A mística grounded us in honoring the earth, each other, and our ancestors. FWAF history was shared along with inspiring cultural performances of song, dance, and readings. Founding partners Sr. Gail and Sr. Anne spoke about the beginning days of FWAF in Apopka and how the work expanded statewide, working alongside Latinx, Haitian, and African American farmworkers.

Awards of appreciation were presented to groups and individuals who supported and stood in solidarity with FWAF. CATA was honored to be one of the recipients. Our two organizations have worked closely together for over 30 years for farmworker rights and co-founded the Farmworker Health and Safety Institute to address pesticide issues.

After lunch, FWAF members proceeded with the business portion of their assembly, where priorities were set for the future. CATA staff then went back to FWAF offices and spent time with Neza and FWAF Pesticide Coordinator, Jeannie Economos, a long-time friend of CATA. It meant a great deal for CATA to share in this event and continue our relationship with FWAF as we work in solidarity for farmworker justice.