Farm Labor and Mexico’s Export Produce Industry
This ongoing project analyzes production and employment systems in selected commodities exported from Mexico to the United States.
Approximately half of the fresh fruit and a quarter of the fresh vegetables consumed in the United States are imported. Mexico supplies half of the fresh fruit imports and three-fourths of the fresh vegetable imports.
Farms in Mexico that grow fruits and vegetables for the U.S. market employ both local and migrant workers. However, there is no reliable data on their wages and working conditions. This project aims to develop statistically sound data on the wages and working conditions of farm workers employed in export-oriented production of avocados, bell peppers, berries, cucumbers, and tomatoes. A special focus will be placed on how internal migrants are recruited, transported, and housed during their temporary employment.
The project seeks to work with all stakeholders, including farmers, workers, buyers, government agencies, and NGOs, to create mechanisms and strategies that improve protections for workers in export-oriented agriculture.
This is a joint project of CIESAS, Migration Dialogue, and the Wilson Center. For further information, please contact Agustin Escobar, Philip Martin, or Virginia Bullington.
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