On September 20, 2016, Robert Holly from the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting published an article discussing the inhumane housing options provided for migrant workers, especially in Michigan. Many investigations surrounding the working and living conditions of Latinx migrant farm workers tend to center geographically on the southwestern United States, particularly California. This makes sense because California has the largest agricultural output of any state (although this seems odd with the desertlike conditions that the state is prone to). However, Michigan is a big agricultural producer; agriculture is the third largest industry in Michigan. High levels of production require either a) lots of labor, or b) lots of mechanization. Labor is often the more convenient and economical option for large agricultural companies like Monsanto and DuPont since they invest so much in the genetic manufacture of their seeds. Furthermore, the most economic option for them is to hire cheap labor; this generally equates to the labor from South American (sometimes illegal) immigrants. If the worries of being an undocumented immigrant aren't enough, imagine dealing with the "difficult and dangerous working conditions" migrants face in the fields each day, "including high risks of heatstroke, dehydration and exposure to toxic pesticides" (Holly). Furthermore, these people have to deal with the wretched labor camps offered by these big ag companies. Many migrant workers describe them as cramped, uncleanly, and ridiculously priced. Many residents face insect infestations, limited bathing/showering opportunities, and have little access to cooking areas. In conjunction, these conditions create a sweet spot for health problems. While there have been several reforms (or at least attempts at reform) since the 1960's, little has actually been improved for these invaluable workers. They suffer low wages, poor health, and discrimination/racism, all for the benefit of large agriculture companies (Holly). Although many of these companies could claim that inexpensive labor by exploited people is what keeps food prices down, this has actually been contested by journalist Tracie McMillan in her book, The American Way of Eating. (It seems odd to me that we need to contest this statement on economic terms, rather than on the complete immorality of the position.) She says that "increasing farm wages by 40 percent would increase the average American family's produce bill by about sixteen dollars a year" (McMillan 29). This is not a steep price to pay for rights for migrant workers; in all, it equates to about four cents a day. However, it seems that companies like DuPont and Monsanto have no real incentive to change their ways and improve the lives of their workers. Holly closes his article with a message to state governments (and the everyday people who elect these leaders): "The big picture is that states must hire more inspectors, impose heftier fines and allocate funding to build better housing for farmworkers." This is the only way to move forward and improve the lives of the people that move much of our American food from farm to table. Works Cited Holly, Robert. "Inside DuPont and Monsanto's Migrant Labor Camps." In These Times, 20 September
2016. Web. McMillan, Tracie. The American Way of Eating. Scribner, 2012. Print.
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