No Day Off: Farmworkers Mark Their Holiday in the Fields
VENTURA COUNTY, Calif.— On a newly designated state holiday meant to honor them, farmworkers across Ventura County are doing what they have always done—working.
The newly named “Farmworkers Day” doesn’t capture all the manual labor that comes with a day’s work.
The low hum of a tractor cuts through the morning air as workers move quickly through rows of ripe strawberries. In these fields, every second counts. The harvest is a race against time.
For farmworker Pedro Garcia, the job is as demanding as ever.
“It’s difficult,” he says. “Because you’re in the rain, in the water, under the sun.”
The challenges go beyond the physical toll. Many workers also carry the weight of uncertainty, including ongoing fears tied to immigration enforcement. Still, the work does not stop. The fields remain active, and the harvest continues.
For years, March 31 was observed in honor of Cesar Chavez, the civil rights icon who co-founded the United Farm Workers and spent decades fighting for better wages and safer working conditions. However, that legacy has recently come under scrutiny following reports linking Chavez to allegations of sexual misconduct involving underage girls and other women.
Even as the holiday evolves, the impact of decades of labor advocacy is still visible in the fields today. Wages, particularly during peak harvest season, have improved.
“Every box they make, they get paid for it,” says farm owner Uriel Hernandez. “So the more boxes they make, the more money they make.”
The holiday also serves as a moment of reflection for consumers—an opportunity to recognize the labor behind everyday food.
“This is a big county for agriculture,” says strawberry farm owner Paco Flores. “We’re top five in the nation out of 3,000 counties, and every single crop is harvested by hand. Artichokes, strawberries, celery, lettuce, blueberries—everything.”
His message is simple but powerful: without farmworkers, the food system would not function.
“Without the farmworkers,” he says, “we wouldn’t have American food.”
As the day set aside to honor them unfolds, farmworkers remain in the fields—working through the elements, sustaining a vital industry, and ensuring food reaches tables across the country.
