Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 through October 15, 2020. The month is dedicated to celebrating the many contributions of Hispanic Americans to our culture and society. The holiday also marks the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico, Chile, and Belize.
Latinx individuals contribute heavily to the farming industry, making up the majority of workers who harvest food in the United States. Despite this, one in six Latinx families faces food insecurity.
To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re highlighting five Latinx activists working in food and farming that you should know.
Faith Florez
Faith Florez, a third-generation Mexican American, is the creator of an app called Calor (or hot/heat in English). The app alerts farm workers on how to protect their health in hot climates.. Functionalities include educating workers on what to eat, drink, and wear when preparing for their shifts. Inspired by the stories passed down to her from grandfather about the negative impacts of field work on their family, Florez created the app to protect the health of current and future farmworkers.
Rudy Arredondo
Rudy Arredondo is the president of the National Latino Farmers & Ranchers Trade Association, advocating nationwide for the interests of small Latinx farmers and ranchers. Focusing on rural economic development and minority agriculture, Arredondo hopes to uplift the voices of farmers and help them grow their businesses.
Jocelyn Ramirez
Jocelyn Ramirez is the founder of Todo Verde, an LA-based catering company putting a vegan twist on Mexican and South American dishes. Right now, Todo Verde is offering online cooking classes to promote healthy eating during the pandemic. Ramirez is also the co-founder of Across Our Kitchen Tables, an organization focused on supporting women of color in the food industry. She’s the author of the recently published cookbook La Vida Verde.
Eduardo Rivera
Eduardo Rivera is the owner and operator of a Minneapolis-based organic farm called Sin Fronteras Farm and Food. The farm’s CSA provides Latinx families in the area with fresh, local vegetables like Tomatillos and Epazote. Rivera also mentors the next generation of farmers through his incubation program. Due to the pandemic, Rivera offers free produce to elders and single parents.
Dolores Huerta
Dolores Huerta is a co-founder of the United Farm Workers Association (UFW). Huerta began her career as an activist through leading voter registration drives and advocating for economic improvement for the Latinx community. During her time at UFW, Huerta has fought hard for the rights of agricultural workers, including unemployment and healthcare benefits and safer working conditions. As the President of the Dolores Huerta Foundation, she engages in campaigns nationwide to support equality and defend civil rights.