Honoring Agricultural Professionals During Hispanic Heritage Month; Equitable Food Initiative’s Alexandra Martinez Comments

WASHINGTON, DC - Equitable Food Initiative, the capacity-building and certification organization that partners with growers, farmworkers, and retailers, is proud to mark Hispanic Heritage Month by spotlighting the vital contributions of Hispanic people throughout the agriculture sector.

According to the National Center for Farmworker Health, 78% of agricultural workers self-identify as Hispanic, a figure that underscores the central role they play in sustaining the food systems that feed our nation. Hispanic Heritage Month has been recognized annually from September 15 – October 15 since 1988, when President Ronald Reagan expanded the weeklong celebration to a full month to “properly recognize the significant contributions Hispanic/Latino Americans have made in the United States.”

During the celebratory month, EFI is encouraging agricultural companies to emphasize the rich cultures, traditions, and histories of Hispanic communities, while also deepening public understanding of the everyday labor, challenges, resilience, and leadership of Hispanic agricultural workers.

EFI has assembled a number of resources and stories to amplify Hispanic voices from the fresh produce industry and raise awareness of Hispanic and Latino heritage in agriculture, including:

• Video conversations with Hispanic agricultural professionals sharing their personal stories of challenge and triumph, from the field and the packing shed to supervisory roles and marketing;
• Profiles and features that highlight how workers of Hispanic and Latin American descent contribute their expertise, skills, cultural knowledge, and stewardship to agriculture;
• Social media graphics and celebratory ideas for companies, farms, and community organizations to engage meaningfully with Hispanic and Latino employees, promoting inclusive practices, workplace equity, and cultural awareness.

“This month is an opportunity to honor the dedication, innovation, and spirit of Hispanic and Latino communities that make the agricultural industry thrive,” said Alexandra Martinez, EFI’s senior digital marketing and sales associate, in the recent release. “This not only includes those who grow, pack, and ship the food we eat every day, but also the educators, managers, decision-makers, innovators, and so many others shaping the industry.”

EFI invites farms, agribusinesses, retailers, and industry stakeholders to join in the celebration by sharing their workers’ stories, integrating cultural education, or strengthening policies that support the safety, dignity, and well-being of Hispanic workers.

For more information and to view EFI’s Hispanic Heritage Month resources and worker stories, visit equitablefood.org/HHM.