AMELIE SEDLACK / FEATURE EDITOR

As the weather warms and cold, refreshing fruit becomes a staple of every meal, Toreros held an event to remember the farmworkers who helped to bring this food to stores. On Thursday, March 19, the United Front Multicultural Commons hosted a “Letters to Farmworkers” pop-up on the Plaza de Colachis, giving students  an  opportunity  to  write  a  short  note of gratitude to workers and pick up an informational flyer along with a small basket of grapes and a clementine orange. 

Toreros stop by the table to write cards of gratitude to farmworkers and pick up informational flyers. Hailey Howell/The USD Vista

USD junior Julian Gonzalez first  had  the idea to create this event. 

“This month is National Nutrition  Month  so  I  just thought it would be a great idea to bring awareness to nutrition,” Gonzalez explained. “Also acknowledge the work that farmworkers put in to nourish us and I think it would be really cool to show gratitude to them as well. That’s where my idea started and it sort of flourished from there.”

Giselle Franco, a USD graduate student, helped to put on this event with Gonzalez. Franco stood at the booth, collecting students cards and giving out informational flyers and fruit to participants. 

“I think it’s important to see how we do this event so students can learn a little bit more about different areas or things that the students might not be aware of,” Franco shared. “So being able to learn more about the different areas that they do and also how they are the backbone of most of the harvest and most of the fruits that we have in our everyday life. I think it’s important to showcase and see that without them,  we  wouldn’t  have  most of the fruits that we do.”

Gonzalez described the  flyers  given  out  to  students   at   the   pop-up. 

“On the flyer it links directly to California [Farmworker] Foundation website and I know on the website it shows more about farmworker rights and how they should support them and other ways to support them [and] other resources you can go towards for supporting other farmers in the California area,” Gonzalez explained. 

USD sophomore Amy Perez attended the event after seeing the flyer posted on Instagram.  

“I think it’s a good way to appreciate the people,” Perez said. “I think even if it’s a quick little stop-by, a quick little note, it means a lot to the workers. And it’s good to appreciate them after all that they do for us, providing our day-to-day, and I think it’s undervalued, usually …  I know a lot about the farmworkers movement and the Berceros Program and a lot of history that goes into it and the issues that happen.”

Gonzalez   shared   why   he   thinks it is so important to be reminded of the farmworkers in California. 

“I feel like it’s really important because a lot of them are migrant farmworkers and they oftentimes go unnoticed and I feel like it’s really important we shed light on how much hard work they put in and to get fruit in our grocery stores and on our plates,” Gonzalez explained. “Coming from a family of migrants, it really just ties back and I think it’s just really important to show gratitude towards them.” 

The event was hosted on campus during Torero Hours on Marian Way next to a frequented walkway so students were able to see the tent as they left class. Students stopped by throughout the two hours to learn more about farmworkers, write a quick note, take some fruit and even share stories of farmworkers.  

Gonzalez talked about some of the stories that were shared and how this event ultimately helped to create a sense of community between the students and farmworkers, despite never meeting. 

“I heard other conversions of ‘some of my family members are farmworkers,’ and they can also connect through that way,” Gonzalez said. “I feel that also showing the school and students recognize, some of the students put USD or their names so it shows a track record of ‘this school recognized our hard work’ and it creates a community with them. It just shows appreciation … words can go a long way.”

USD first-year Charlotte Morse did not attend the event but explained what she knew about the life of farmworkers.

“I’m from Colorado, so I haven’t really seen [the life and working conditions of farmworkers] as much, but I know that at least in Colorado it is pretty harsh but I think that’s because the weather is harsh,” Morse explained. “I don’t really know how it is here, but I imagine it’s similar.”

With the letters of gratitude written, they must now be sent to the farmworkers. Gonzalez shared his plan to get the letters to the farmworkers. 

“I contacted the California Farmworker Foundation and I’m waiting to hear back from them on how I can send it to them so they can distribute it ‘cause they work directly with farmworkers and migrants,” Gonzalez said. 

Gonzalez decided to send the California Farmworker Foundation  all  of  the  notes  with  an  explanation, hoping that the cards will all make it to a farmworker. 

“I haven’t received any emails back,” Gonzalez said. “So we have decided to send it to one of their offices with a letter of explanation of what we did, and gave them my contact information in hopes to receive some pictures of the farmers enjoying our cards.”

Art by Kyra Lefebvre/The USD Vista

The Letters to Farmworkers pop-up was a reminder to Toreros to think about the origins of their food and thank those who helped in the process. Many Toreros appreciated having the opportunity to thank a group of people who do so much for them.  

The Letters to Farmworkers table served as a reminder of those who grow Toreros’ food. Hailey Howell/The USD Vista