Farmworker Association of Florida

https://bit.ly/3Lsdyl5
Univision Noticias spoke with farmworkers in Michigan, Florida and North Carolina, as well as with several experts, to bring light to an issue that can have grave consequences on workers’ health. Take a look at this informative video.

Vídeo en español https://www.univision.com/noticias/campo-toxico-el-dano-de-los-pesticidas-en-los-trabajadores-del-campo-video

Exposed: How pesticides harm farmworkers Farmworkers are exposed to pesticides every day in the United States. Often sprayed with unknown chemicals by tractors, airplanes or by those fumigating on foot, they may also come into contact with pesticides by touching plants that are still wet. They rarely know about the dangers they face. We sp...

Celebrating Freedom! Celebrating Equality! Celebrating the Struggle and Solidarity and Community on today, the birthday of Nelson Mandela. Justice for All!

The scary truth of pesticides. Take a look at the different farmworkers who are exposed to Pesticides. Univision Noticias
https://bit.ly/3zNqJuj
"...all of these workers have been sprayed in the course of their daily work with unknown chemicals from tractors, airplanes or by those fumigating on foot. They’ve also come into contact with pesticide residue by touching fruits that had recently been sprayed. These workers are rarely informed of the dangers they face."

Exposed: latino farmworkers risk their health working under threat of pesticide exposure Farmworkers are exposed to pesticides while picking in fields in the U.S.

Know your rights with FWAF! Join us TODAY at our Apopka office from 6-8 p.m. to review new procedures of HB 1718, HB 1451, and HB 1589.

Protéjase de los peligros de la exposición al calor y de las enfermedades causadas por el calor. Sepa cómo protegerse a sí mismo y a sus familiares y compañeros de trabajo.

What an animated and great group from Nkwanda Jah's Environmental Ambassadors group in Gainesville, FL, that came to Apopka today for a Lake Apopka Toxic Tour after which they had a home-cooked lunch made by Ms. Linda Lee and her great-grandsons, and who shared her life experiences as a farmworker and as a Black woman in the South in Central Florida in the 1960s and beyond. A huge Thank You to everyone!

🌾 Food and farmworkers are the backbone of our agricultural system, yet many lack basic protections. It's time for comprehensive reform in the farm bill to ensure fair wages, safe working conditions, and access to federal resources and relief.
Food Chain Workers Alliance
HEAL Food Alliance
Union of Concerned Scientists
UFCW Votes

Time to Take Action! You can make a difference! Tell FEMA to protect people from extreme heat and wildfire smoke. These are disasters that are affecting millions of people around the country. Add your voice and Take Action Now!

Save People From Deadly Heat and Smoke Every year heatwaves and toxic wildfires devastate U.S. cities and ecosystems — but the government still doesn't classify these events as major disasters. To save lives, the United States needs to take heat and smoke seriously.

Short storyboard about Pierson, Florida farmworkers!🌱 Although Pierson is not widely known, it has a rich history of ferneries and hardworking farmworkers!

Know your rights with FWAF! Join us next Tuesday (July 16) at our Apopka office to review new procedures of HB 1718, HB 1451, and HB 1589.

https://bit.ly/4cLseY9
"The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Tuesday released a proposed rule that would require employers to provide such things as water and rest breaks when temperatures top certain thresholds."

Florida barred heat protection for workers. Now feds are stepping in Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill in April that prevents local governments from requiring heat-exposure protections for workers.

Hot days are here and more to come! Be aware of any symptoms and make sure to be hydrated even if you are inside. Listen to your body and be safe!

These are national regulations under OSHA that apply to all farmworkers. All farmworkers in the U.S. have the right to these field sanitation supplies in their workplace.
Rural Women's Health Project
The Guatemalan-Maya Center
WeCount
Coalition Of Florida Farmworker Organizations
Florida Immigrant Coalition

FWAF sharing more photos showing Linda Lee's incredible hand crafts at our table at the Juneteenth event in Leesburg, FL with help from long-time volunteer and support artist, Sarah Downs, a total fan of Ms. Linda's artwork! The Lake Apopka Farmworker Memorial Quilt was also on display at the event. Black farmworkers want their legacy and their contributions remembered, shared and acknowledged for future generations!

🌾 Food and farm workers face extreme conditions like heat waves and pesticide exposure without adequate protections or relief. It's time for the to include equitable protections and relief for those who feed us.
Food Chain Workers Alliance
HEAL Food Alliance
Union of Concerned Scientists
UFCW Votes

Melvin, from Apopka Florida, was involved in a serious fire accident that caused him severe harm. Please consider donating or sharing to help Melvin pay for his medical expenses.
He is extremely grateful to those who have donated from the bottom of his heart!

Donate to Melvin: Sobreviviente de un Incendio que Cambió su Vida, organized by Melvin Javier Rodriguez Hola, mi nombre es Melvin Javier Rodríguez. Durante un viaje … Melvin Javier Rodriguez needs your support for Melvin: Sobreviviente de un Incendio que Cambió su Vida

What a great turn out at our Pierson office! 😁

Our Climate Justice Organizer, Dominique was present at this planning for the 2024 Hurricane Season.

Orange County held a hurricane expo at Evans High School in Orlando last Saturday. FWAF staff had direct conversations with emergency responders and safety vendors, collecting hurricane preparedness information for the community.

Juneteenth Parade and Celebration in South Apopka on Saturday June 15. The Farmworker Association participated in this grassroots, community parade with a float about social justice and modern day slavery. As Martin Luther King Jr. said "An injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere!" In solidarity for social justice!

Juneteenth! A celebration! The Farmworker Association was invited to table and participate in a Juneteenth event in Leesburg wtih the Legacy Club. Ms. Linda Lee displayed her handmade quilt squares and amazing hand-stitched dolls, along with an informational display about FWAF, copies of the book "Fed Up" and the red Lake Apopka Farmworker Memorial Quilt. There was food and dancing, poetry reading and presentations, including a presentation about Virgil Hawkins, an important part of Florida's Black History. What a wonderful way to spend Juneteenth - in community and for justice!

Workers are on the frontlines of the climate crisis. They deserve stronger protections to survive extreme heat and wildfire smoke emergencies. FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency must fund life-saving solutions like cooling and water stations to help workers prepare for and respond to these disasters.
Press Release: https://bit.ly/4eq02M9

Honoring Juneteenth Day!

Everyone knows that the cruel law - HB 433 - the prevents local governments from taking steps to protect outdoor workers from heat stress - is dangerous to the health and well-being of so many workers around the state. This news from News Channel 8 in Tampa shows some of the support for fast-tracking national heat stress protections. From the news story - "Castor said workers deserve breaks, appropriate protective equipment, water and cooling stations, as well as education on the signs of heat-related illness." We know this. It is common sense and common decency. Protect Outdoor Workers Now!

Florida congresswoman calls on OSHA after DeSantis signs ‘cruel’ bill banning local heat protections for workers U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) is calling on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Department of Labor to implement federal heat protections ahead of what she called a “cruel…

FWAF's Apopka office held a Fathers' Day event on Friday, June 14th, to honor and recognize the leadership committee fathers and their contributions to their families and to the organization. Community members brought homemade food for a community dinner! 😄 Thank you to our Fathers and thanks to the Mothers who provided the food for the event. Thanks to our great leadership committee for the decorations and preparations for the event!❤️

Happy Father's Day from the FWAF staff!

Take a look at this article talking about FWAF working with U.S. department of Labor to help victims of wage theft.

‘The system is broken’: How one community organization fights wage theft in Central Florida The Farmworker Association of Florida works with the U.S. Department of Labor to help victims of wage theft recover pay they are lawfully owed.

IMMOKALEE Story- On June 10th, our research coordinator arrived at a place where farmworkers in Immokalee meet to get picked up for their workday. It was a few minutes before 7am, and around a dozen of workers drank coffee, ate bread, looked at their phones, or chatted with a friend or colleague. Trucks, vans, and buses came and went. Workers came in and out of the store, before heading off with their crews to being their day’s work. While our research coordinator drank his coffee, he struck up a conversation with two men waiting to be picked up. They said that the agricultural work was mostly done for the season. There were only a few odd jobs here and there, they added. A few minutes later, a couple asked our research coordinator if he had any work for them. They had been looking for work for the past two months without any success.

[Last 2 pictures] The Immokalee farmers' market is a landmark and an attraction in this small, farmworker rural town in southwest Florida. Yet, sadly, farmworkers' low wages often means they do not have the money to buy the fresh, nutritious food they need for their families. The Farmworker Association office in Immokalee fights for better wages and working conditions for farmworkers, including doing heat stress and pesticide safety and Know Your Rights trainings in addition to yearly cultural events. Justice for farmworkers - every day!

Happy National Immigrant Heritage Month to all the immigrants who contribute their diverse cultures to the country. This celebration honors and recognizes the rich cultures and stories brought by immigrants and how much influence immigrants have on this country.