Michigan’s migrant farmworkers are the backbone of the country’s second-most diverse agricultural economy. Social and labor protections for them fall short.

Michigan is famous for its fruit festivals. Visitors can sample cherries at the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City or blueberries at the National Blueberry Festival in South Haven.

The Apple Festival in Charlevoix and the Romeo Peach Festival feature fruit later in the season.

As a diverse crop-producing state and the top producer of asparagus in the country, Michigan has an agricultural scenery that is a picturesque blend of crop fields and fruit trees.

However, beneath this facade lies a harsh reality of precarious work and exploitative labor practices for Michigan’s farmworkers, who are often invisible to people who enjoy the fruits of their labors, according to the Michigan Farmworker Project’s ongoing research.

  • Drusas
    4•4 months ago

    Maybe all these articles need to focus a little more on the fact that agricultural work relies heavily on slaves, indentured servants, and the otherwise exploited. Just earlier today I read about dozens of Indians being tricked into slavery and indentured servitude in order to pick grapes and such in Italy. This is a worldwide problem in the agricultural industry and it needs action at the federal level.

    • @Noodle07English
      2•4 months ago

      From child banana servers all the way up to rich French vineyards or forced labor cotton picker. It’s everywhere