MOVEMENT OF MIGRANT WORKERS

http://fairimmigration.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/grapes-of-confusion1.gif

Migrant Workers
As a result of the dust bowl and the depression, many farmers did not have stable jobs. Thus, one of the few ways that they could provide for their families was to find a new job. Rotating with the picking seasons, these workers would move from farm to farm. As the one crop season ended, another would start, and the workers would be on the move, yet again. Nationally, 10% of hired farm workers are migrant workers. There are three regions that are widely popular to migrant workers: The Pacific Coast, The Midwest, and The Atlantic Coast.


http://www.zonezero.com/magazine/articles/mraz/images/meyer.jpg

The Pacific Coast
- As a result of the temperate climate, the crop season is year-round.
- The crop seasons usually being their work year in California, and as one crop season dwindles down, the migrant workers vacate the farm in search of other work.
- In the end, many workers drift up to Washington state.
- Some of the crops that are in the Pacific Coast are:
- Cherries
- Apples
- Grapes

http://www.greenfieldreporter.com/content/articles/2007/10/21/news/01.jpg

The Midwest
- In the Midwest, the crops are smaller, so the workers need to move around even more.
- With each crop change, the workers trek to other states.
- For example, when the strawberry season ends in Michigan, the tomato harvest begins in Ohio. When the tomato harvest ends in Ohio, the workers must return to Michigan for apple season.

The Atlantic Coast
- In the Atlantic coast, workers traveled o NH and NY
- However, the climate only allowed them to work from March to September.