What we, as a society, are willing to pay for our food says a lot about how much we truly value human life. Much of the focus on sustainable agriculture leaves out of the discussion all mention of the people responsible for keeping billions of people fed, who receive little to no recognition or respect. Yes, organic and local is great, and yes, it can be expensive, but how much more would you pay if you knew the person harvesting those strawberries could afford to buy them for his or her family? Would you reduce the frequency of your purchases to send a message to producers? Every purchase or decision not to purchase is a vote, and citizens in this country have a great deal of political agency in determining the the future of the food system and those who support it. We need not be subject to the whims of marketing, media, and politics. I’m not saying people struggling with income should go hungry so migrant workers can eat more of the foods they harvest, but those of us with greater means and education are in a position of influence and responsibility that we too often fail to acknowledge.

Riveting Photos Of Migrant Workers Remind Us Who Really Harvests Our Food