Farmers gives us plenty of reasons to celebrate
Every day we celebrate some sort of holiday. Whether it be National Cookie Day, National French Fry Day or, one of my personal favorites, National Puppy Day. Today, March 23, is one of the most important days, the day we celebrate American agriculture. National Agriculture Day was created by the Agriculture Council of America to recognize and celebrate the farmers who provide the safest and most affordable products on our plate.
COVID-19 has negatively affected industries across the nation. The measures implemented to try to curb the spread of the virus have disrupted business systems and routines. The agricultural industry has not been exempted from the struggles the global business market is experiencing. Throughout the pandemic, our country has still needed food on our tables. Our incredible farmworkers stepped up to the plate (sorry for the pun) to ensure a consistent food supply.
Imperial County farmworkers are to thank for the food on your table, considering that more than half the vegetables consumed by North America in the winter months come from Imperial Valley. Feeding the nation during a pandemic is no easy task, fortunately, local farmers have worked tirelessly to protect their workers.
Agricultural employers have worked hard to collect personal protective equipment to distribute to their employees. At the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, Imperial Valley Vegetable Growers Association received an anonymous donation of more than 113,000 masks to distribute to farmworkers. Since then, we have distributed free masks, face shields, gloves and hand sanitizer to our ag workers. The Imperial County Agricultural Commissioner’s office has also distributed over 1.6 million surgical masks to protect our essential workforce. We are so proud of our local farmers and workers coming together to provide and maintain a safe working environment.
The newest initiative is vaccinating the agricultural sector. We have sent letters to Gov. Gavin Newsom advocating for more vaccines to be distributed to Imperial County. Thus far, an estimated 1,500 farmworkers have been inoculated in the county. We are advocating daily to target our essential workers. While we are nearing the end of the mid-winter harvest season in Imperial Valley, our spring harvest will soon be upon us and those involved in agriculture will continue to work hard to bring you safe produce.
Though we set one day aside to celebrate agriculture, appreciation for it should not be limited to just one week or one day a year. Agriculture is part of each one of us, every day. Here in the Imperial Valley, we are incredibly fortunate to live in such a bountiful agricultural community. Next time you eat a meal, be sure to thank a farmer.