6th August: Farmworker Appreciation Day

Farmworker Appreciation Day comes on August 6 of every year and created to appreciate farm workers and to raise awareness of the issues that they face on every year. The work of farm workers is considered to be one of the most dangerous jobs in the first world, and yet the often not protected by any laws that protect other workers. This is due in part to their annual status and their tendency to be immigrant workers who return to their home country after the harvest is complete.

Some of the hazards that they face in their work line includes exposure to pesticides and fertilizers which may cause rashes due to their toxic nature. While doing the job, they apply pesticides, dig in fertilized soil, and harvest those same plants which they previously doused with poison. In such uncertain conditions, it’s not shocking that many die and fall sick each year.

Every year you can see them as you drive by the fields, hundreds of strong backs labouring under the hot summer sun to bring in the harvest. Their work only happens during this time of year, and it is inevitable that many of these individuals are here only for this task, and set to return to their home country afterward. Hence Farmworker Appreciation Day is a perfect day to raise awareness among about the difficulties faced by the farm workers and remind us to be thankful for all they’ve done.