NR No. 24-41
Contact: Loree Levy/Greg Lawson
916-654-9029
mediainquiries@edd.ca.gov
What You Need to Know: California agriculture depends on nearly 800,000 migrant and seasonal farmworkers who cultivate over 400 different agricultural commodities across the state. These essential workers help California to lead the nation in the processing of agricultural goods with 59% of the country’s vegetables and 61% of the nation’s fruits and nuts (2023 crop year); and California is the world’s top exporter of produce. The Employment Development Department, along with state and local partners, held its 45th annual Farmworkers Appreciation Breakfast in Calexico, CA this morning to thank the state’s agricultural workers.
CALEXICO – Employment Development Department (EDD) staff and local volunteers served approximately 2,500 Imperial County agricultural workers at an early-morning breakfast today of tamales, beans, salsa, sweet bread, and hot coffee in recognition of their essential role of providing food for citizens of California, the U.S., and the rest of the world. EDD and its local partners are celebrating 45 years hosting the Farmworkers Appreciation Breakfast in Calexico, California, as a gesture of thanks towards our state’s agricultural workers for their important work and their undeniable contributions to the state’s economy.
“California farmworkers are the backbone to our economy,” said EDD Director Nancy Farias. “EDD and its partners are honored to host this event which is just a small token to show our support and appreciation for California’s agricultural workers.”
Volunteers at the 45th annual Farmworkers Appreciation Breakfast Event serving local farm workers
This year’s event was held in Calexico’s America’s Job Center of California and conducted by EDD’s Imperial County regional staff along with volunteers from partner groups including Center for Employment Training, Imperial Valley Regional Occupation Program, and AmeriCorps. Sponsors for this event include, Campesinos Unidos, La Cooperativa, Planned Parenthood, and the California Department of Civil Rights. The event was also supported by the local agriculture industry, farmers, and contractors as well as by local businesses, agencies, and community-based organizations. You can watch a feature video covering this year’s event on the Department’s YouTube channel.
Imperial County’s Agricultural Workforce
Calexico is located within Imperial County, which has a significantly higher percentage of agricultural workers in its workforce in comparison with most areas of California. As of October 2024, agriculture industry jobs made up 13.4 percent of all jobs in the El Centro Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Calexico. In comparison, only 2.2 percent of the total jobs within California were part of the agriculture industry as of October 2024.
EDD estimates there were approximately 17,579 migrant and seasonal farmworkers employed in Imperial County over the year from 2023-24 compared to 784,279 employed statewide during the same timeframe. According to the 2023 Imperial County Agricultural Crop and Livestock Report, the top farm and agricultural commodities produced in Imperial County include cattle, alfalfa, head lettuce, leaf lettuce, broccoli, spinach, onions, and carrots. Imperial County accounted for approximately $2.7 billion in agriculture industry production in 2023.
Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Program
EDD works in cooperation with many California agencies and community-based organizations to directly serve the state’s agricultural workers through the Department’s Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker (MSFW) Outreach Program. The MSFW group works with local partners to secure funding for programs that help farmworkers achieve long-term success and independence through education, training, job placement, and other helpful services. Over the last year, EDD farmworker outreach teams have assisted some 12,994 agriculture industry workers statewide.
EDD deploys multilingual outreach staff directly to areas where farmworkers work, live, and gather to make sure they receive information about job opportunities, labor rights, and the many helpful services and resources the EDD offers agricultural workers including:
- Multilingual assistance.
- General information about unemployment, disability, and Paid Family Leave benefits.
- Referrals to supportive services such as low-cost medical services, housing, utility assistance, food banks, and legal services.
- Assistance with job searches, résumé writing, and job referrals.
- Information about farmworker labor rights and filing complaints.
- Assistance with placement into agricultural and non-agricultural jobs.
Monitor Advocate Office
EDD’s Monitor Advocate Office (MAO) acts as a connection between farmworkers and the Department; ensures that employers follow state and federal rules for migrant and seasonal agriculture workers; and provides job seekers with access to employment services. The MAO team also runs a complaint system that allows farmworkers in California to report issues like not having enough shade in hot weather, problems with breaks or lunch, not getting paid properly, and health and safety concerns. If problems are not solved, the MAO can take issues to appropriate enforcement agencies. This team also helps farmworker communities set up Local Farmworker Forums, where they can get help from local organizations and speak up for workers' rights.
Resources for Workers
For more information about these EDD services, visit the Department’s Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker webpage. This page also has links to helpful resources for both workers and employers in the agriculture industry. You can find information about translation services in the website’s Language Resources section. If needed, customers can contact an EDD representative who can assist in their preferred language. EDD has bilingual staff to help, and the Department works with partners to offer free translation and interpreter services in over 200 languages.