Race, Food, and Borders: Situating Migrant Struggle in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Housing Conditions and Health Implications for Migrant Agricultural Workers in Canada: A Scoping Review

“…This pressure was exacerbated by the location of workers' housing, which was typically on their employer's property and/or in close proximity to farm operations (Caxaj & Cohen, 2019;Gallié, Galerand & Bourbeau, 2020). Proximity to employers' homes facilitated surveillance and arbitrary 'house rules,' and overcrowding in congregate housing quarters further reducing workers' autonomy and freedom of mobility (Bejan et al, 2021;Birdi, 2013;Caxaj & Diaz, 2018;Cohen, 2019;Hjalmarson et al, 2015;McLaughlin, 2017;Perry, 2018). In an extreme case, migrant workers reported being physically locked indoors after work (Preibisch, 2004) and in many cases, workers were explicitly instructed not to socialize outside of the farm (Caxaj & Cohen, 2018;Hjalmarson et al, 2015).…”

“…Proximity to employers' homes facilitated surveillance and arbitrary 'house rules,' and overcrowding in congregate housing quarters further reducing workers' autonomy and freedom of mobility (Bejan et al, 2021;Birdi, 2013;Caxaj & Diaz, 2018;Cohen, 2019;Hjalmarson et al, 2015;McLaughlin, 2017;Perry, 2018). In an extreme case, migrant workers reported being physically locked indoors after work (Preibisch, 2004) and in many cases, workers were explicitly instructed not to socialize outside of the farm (Caxaj & Cohen, 2018;Hjalmarson et al, 2015). Another common spatial practice of employer control involved racial and gender segregation of housing facilities (Cohen, 2019;Juárez Cerdi, 2010;Preibisch & Grez, 2010).…”

“…Another common spatial practice of employer control involved racial and gender segregation of housing facilities (Cohen, 2019;Juárez Cerdi, 2010;Preibisch & Grez, 2010). Workers reported poorer or differential treatment based on their gender or country of origin, which they described as a form of discrimination or control (Beckford, 2016;Cohen & Caxaj, 2018;Cohen, 2019;Hjalmarson et al, 2015;Preibisch & Grez, 2010). Researchers also cataloged extensive cases in which workers reported that harassment and fear for safety impacted the overall quality of their living conditions, and that these dynamics often mirrored workplace hierarchies (Basok et al, 2014;Binford, 2013;Cohen, 2019;Juárez Cerdi, 2010;Decent and Dignified Housing for Migrant Farmworkers, 2020;Perry, 2018;Preibisch & Grez, 2010).…”

A Lifeline in troubled waters: A support intervention for migrant farm workers

“…Migrant agricultural workers often experience exclusion from Canadian society and report experiencing alienation, feelings of non‐belonging, and outright discrimination and hostility in host communities (Basok & George, 2020; Beckford, 2016; Cohen, 2019; Hjalmarson et al, 2015; Preibisch, 2004). This population has very limited opportunities to become permanent residents, meaning that many work in Canada for decades yet remain “permanently temporary” (Hennebry, 2012).…”

Cultivating Equitable Ground: Community-based Participatory Research To Connect Food Movements with Migrant Farmworkers

“…Despite interests in reconnecting consumers with food producers and developing initiatives that promote appreciation of farmers, hired farmworkers have been notably absent from conversations on how to advance equitable and sustainable food systems (Ekers, Levkoe, Walker, & Dale, 2015;Gray, 2014;Minkoff-Zern, 2014;Sbicca, 2015). This is particularly the case for those who migrate across international borders for seasonal farm employment (Hjalmarson, Bunn, Cohen, Terbasket, & Gahman, 2015;Preibisch & Grez, 2014;Weiler, Otero, & Wittman, 2016). In Western Europe and North America, migrant farmworkers are rarely recognized on promotional materials for local food, invited to farm-to-table events, or represented within food policy organizations that discuss issues affecting their lives.…”