1. PRODUCT OF MEXICO
When thinking about where our food comes from, I used to only pay attention to
environmental aspects and how food miles increase emissions and pollute our air. What
I failed to consider is how our consumer habits have more impact on the lives of others
than we’d think. Our decision to buy produce from other countries can create a ripple
effect on farm workers that have to live and work in obscene conditions, often with no
choice but to become targets of exploitation.
Most of the fruit and vegetables found in American supermarkets have stickers on them
that read “Product of Mexico.” According to the Los Angeles Times, Mexican farm
exports have significantly increased to $7.6 billion within the last 10 years, which has
had repercussions on Mexico’s poorest communities. While Mexican agricultural exports
have been a blessing for growers, the increase is a curse for those who have to do all
the picking – many of whom are young children lacking access to other resources or
opportunities.
The prominence of labor camps has been an issue often resulting from corporate greed,
where companies completely dismiss the living and working conditions of their laborers,
profiting at the expense of cheap labor. But why? In countries like Mexico, with less
monitoring and looser laws, suppliers can get away with exploiting laborers.
Corporations communicate that they are abiding to local laws and standards, but taking
a close look at these camps shows otherwise. U.S. companies tend to scrutinize food
safety more than working conditions.
Photojournalist Don Bartletti gives us a glimpse into the lives of agricultural workers by
documenting the conditions of produce pickers in Mexico. He investigates the origins of
our highly-demanded staple foods so that we can recognize how our buying patterns can
profoundly influence the lives of others. More of his work can be found here via the Los
Angeles Times, and it is coming to ART WORKS’ 625 Studio on October 15.