All across the country, migrant farm workers were harvesting fruits and vegetables every day. Migrant farm workers make up 10% of hired farm workers. Each part of the country had different climates. According to the season, migrant farm workers moved their whole family for the growing season.
The Pacific Coast:
The Pacific coast has a moderate climate which allows farmers to cultivate the land all year long. This means that migrant farmers don’t have to move each season. Most of the migrant workers work on fruit farms, either picking grapes and vegetables in California, or picking cherries, apples, and other crops in Washington.
The Midwest:
The Midwest has small streams to keep crops watered. Crops are smaller so workers must keep moving during the year to keep themselves employed. One family, for example, may pick strawberries in Michigan, pick tomatoes in Ohio, go back to Michigan to pick apples, then go to Texas for the winter.
The Atlantic Coast
Most workers in this region stay in Florida because of the year round work. However others travel north to New Hampshire and New York. Because this region has icy cold winters, workers here cannot find work during the winter seasons
Across the US, migrant workers were forced to move their families and their homes to match the different seasons of certain crops. Every except the pacific coast did not have year-round growing seasons. Therefore, workers on the pacific were able to stay in one place. These paths have changed slightly, however migrant workers in every region still exist today.
By Kevin
