Watch: ‘Heat, floods and fires: California farmworkers in times of climate change’

La Abeja staff
·3 min read
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Farmworkers serve a vital role to California. Despite this, they often face a number of disadvantages compared to the rest of the state’s population.

We are no longer live. Click on the video above to watch a replay of the Q&A.

A recently released study from UC Merced Community and Labor Center that provides a detailed look at chronic health issues, healthcare access, living and workplace conditions that impact California farmworkers.

The study — titled “Farmworker Health in California: Health in A Time of Contagion, Drought, and Climate Change” — highlights both the health and labor risks farmworkers face.

The La Abeja reporting team’s hour-long Q&A featured conversations with six experts in three segments:

  • Ana Padilla and Edward Flores, the study’s lead researchers and co-directors of the UC Merced CLC, will give an overview of the report highlights.

  • Eriberto Fernandez, the government affairs deputy director of the UFW Foundation, and Central Valley farmer Joe Del Bosque will discuss the day-to-day experiences of farmworkers in the fields.

  • California Assemblymember and Assembly Speaker Designate Robert Rivas (D-San Benito County) and State Senator Anna Caballero (D-Merced) will discuss possible legislative solutions that come out of the study.

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Panelists

Edward Flores is an associate professor of sociology, and faculty director of the UC Merced Community and Labor Center. His areas of expertise include labor, race, immigration, and civic religion.
Edward Flores is an associate professor of sociology, and faculty director of the UC Merced Community and Labor Center. His areas of expertise include labor, race, immigration, and civic religion.

Edward Flores is an associate professor of sociology, and faculty director of the UC Merced Community and Labor Center. His areas of expertise include labor, race, immigration, and civic religion.

Ana Padilla is Executive Director of the UC Merced Community and Labor Center, the largest labor center serving a rural region in the United States and the first new UC labor center in six decades.
Ana Padilla is Executive Director of the UC Merced Community and Labor Center, the largest labor center serving a rural region in the United States and the first new UC labor center in six decades.

Ana Padilla is Executive Director of the UC Merced Community and Labor Center, the largest labor center serving a rural region in the United States and the first new UC labor center in six decades.

Eriberto Fernandez is the government affairs deputy director of the UFW Foundation, an organization that mobilizes farmworkers across the country to advocate for more equitable policies.
Eriberto Fernandez is the government affairs deputy director of the UFW Foundation, an organization that mobilizes farmworkers across the country to advocate for more equitable policies.

Eriberto Fernandez is the government affairs deputy director of the UFW Foundation, an organization that mobilizes farmworkers across the country to advocate for more equitable policies.

Joe Del Bosque is an organic cantaloupe farmer who also grows almonds and cherries in the Firebaugh area. He is a media contact for local, national and international journalists working on stories about farming issues. 
Joe Del Bosque is an organic cantaloupe farmer who also grows almonds and cherries in the Firebaugh area. He is a media contact for local, national and international journalists working on stories about farming issues.

Joe Del Bosque is an organic cantaloupe farmer who also grows almonds and cherries in the Firebaugh area. He is a media contact for local, national and international journalists working on stories about farming issues.

Speaker Designate Robert Rivas was elected to the State Assembly in 2018. As a child, Rivas grew up in farmworker housing and was cared for by his grandfather, who was a farmworker and stood side by side with Cesar Chavez and UFW to advocate for equal rights.
Speaker Designate Robert Rivas was elected to the State Assembly in 2018. As a child, Rivas grew up in farmworker housing and was cared for by his grandfather, who was a farmworker and stood side by side with Cesar Chavez and UFW to advocate for equal rights.

Speaker Designate Robert Rivas was elected to the State Assembly in 2018. As a child, Rivas grew up in farmworker housing and was cared for by his grandfather, who was a farmworker and stood side by side with Cesar Chavez and UFW to advocate for equal rights.

Ana Caballero was elected to the State Senate in 2018. She previously served in the Assembly. Born to a family of copper miners, Caballero moved to California to work at California Rural Legal Assistance, where she represented farmworkers.
Ana Caballero was elected to the State Senate in 2018. She previously served in the Assembly. Born to a family of copper miners, Caballero moved to California to work at California Rural Legal Assistance, where she represented farmworkers.

Anna Caballero was elected to the State Senate in 2018. She previously served in the Assembly. Born to a family of copper miners, Caballero moved to California to work at California Rural Legal Assistance, where she represented farmworkers.

Mathew Miranda
Mathew Miranda

Mathew Miranda covers Latino communities for The Sacramento Bee.

Melissa Montalvo
Melissa Montalvo

Melissa Montalvo covers labor and the economy for The Fresno Bee/Fresnoland as a Report for America Corps member.

Juan Esparza Loera
Juan Esparza Loera

Juan Esparza Loera is the editor of Vida en el Valle.

Laura S. Diaz
Laura S. Diaz

Laura S. Diaz reports on Latino communities for The Fresno Bee and the Central Valley News Collaborative.