August 26 is a day of reflection in California as we celebrate California Farmworker Day. This day is dedicated to highlighting, remembering, and appreciating the work that farmworkers contribute daily in California to provide the food that nourishes families and communities.
The California Farmworker Foundation (CFF) is an organization deeply committed to enhancing the lives of farmworkers across the state by helping to ensure that farmworkers and their families receive the resources and services they need.
A Strong Partnership with CDFA
CDFA is honored to partner with CFF. The organization has three pillars that are foundational to its mission: education, health and wellness, and civil services.
“Everything CFF does aligns with these three pillars, ensuring that farmworkers not only receive immediate assistance but also have the tools and resources to build better futures,” said Diana Silva, with CFF.
One of the key areas of this partnership is education, particularly in workforce development, and is supported by two CDFA grants.
In 2022, CFF was the recipient of CDFA’s Beginning Farmer and Farmworker Training & Workforce Development Grant Program. The organization received $800,000 for the “Growing Futures” project, which is helping provide farmworkers with an opportunity to achieve educational growth via credit and non-credit courses from local community colleges — courses they may take at their worksites and in their communities. This program is intended to boost current workforce skills to improve opportunities for farmworkers as well as help Central Valley growers remain competitive in the global market. CFF has partnered with Bakersfield College and Porterville College to provide educational opportunities for farmworkers in Kern and Tulare counties.
Another key grant was awarded in 2023 from CDFA’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. CFF received $499,715 to help empower farmworkers by providing resources and skills to improve their job opportunities and better meet the evolving needs of the industry. The grant will help meet the need for vocational and skill development. CFF is helping to bridge the gap between agricultural operations and regional community colleges in Riverside, Imperial and San Diego counties by facilitating industry training needs with resources in the region through customized workforce training. Additionally, CFF is developing “Agricultural Vocational English as a Second Language,” a project dedicated to serving the unique linguistic needs of farmworkers and rural communities in the counties of Kern and Tulare.
CFF’s programs are designed to address challenges that farmworkers face daily. One of the most pressing issues is health and wellness. CFF partners with healthcare providers to bring mobile health clinics directly to worksites. Vision care is also a priority, with mobile clinics offering eye exams and necessary treatment.
Food insecurity is another critical issue that CFF addresses. In 2023, the foundation distributed more than 800,000 pounds of fresh food–including produce, eggs, and milk–to farmworker communities in the Pixley, Delano, and Richgrove communities. This effort remains a top priority as food security continues to be an urgent need.
In addition to health and wellness, CFF’s civil assistance program provides invaluable support to farmworkers navigating immigration services, MediCal registration, and CalFresh enrollment.
This California Farmworker Day and every day, CDFA is proud to stand alongside CFF, celebrating the incredible contributions of farmworkers and reaffirming our commitment to improving their lives. Together, we are building better futures for those who sustain California’s agriculture.