A new group wants to help Stanislaus farmworkers. It can’t find any to join it | Opinion

What better way to elevate the voice of farmworkers than to establish a countywide Farmworker Advisory Committee where these essential workers can provide insight into the challenges they face.

That is what forward-thinking members of the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors did last fall when they formed a 14-member committee that includes 10 farmworkers.

However, the fear and uncertainty in the farmworker community has hindered efforts to get the advisory committee off the ground after President Donald Trump’s call for the “largest deportation operation in American history.”

The one-year pilot program would provide a $100 stipend for each meeting, up to six meetings a year. The advisory committee was expected to get farmworker input on issues like housing, health, working conditions, immigration and access to safety-net services.

Each supervisor would select two farmworkers for their districts to join representatives from agriculture, farm labor contracting, the county’s Agricultural Advisory Board and a community-based organization serving the farmworker population.

But the innovative program, modeled after one established in San Mateo County in 2022, is having a difficult time getting started: The county can’t find enough farmworkers to serve.

As of the July 15 deadline, Stanislaus County Ag Commissioner Linda Pinfold said no more than two farmworkers had submitted an application.

“This farmworkers committee is for farmworkers and by farmworkers and cannot be successful without farmworkers,” Pinfold told The Modesto Bee Editorial Board. “We want to see this be successful.”

It appears that farmworker fears of deportation efforts will have to be overcome to make this committee viable.

“Since January, we’ve seen fear and uncertainty in the farmworker community with regards to the federal administration’s targeting of undocumented immigrants,” Noé Páramo of the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation told Modesto Bee reporter Kathleen Quinn.

“Why would you go and connect with a government entity that has not shown diversity or inclusiveness of farmworkers to the extent of creating a farmworker advisory committee?” said Páramo.

There are between 24,000 and 30,000 farmworkers in Stanislaus County’s $3.4 billion ag industry, and about 60% to 70% of them are undocumented, said Páramo.

“Frankly, without farmworkers we wouldn’t be between No. 6 and No. 8 in county ag production,” said Pinfold.

Kahrla Arias, who helped create the new advisory committee, said farmworkers might be reluctant to join a structured board where potential employers are also part of the board.

“These kinds of committees are not meant for people who aren’t already in a circle of power,” Arias told The Modesto Bee. She believes the county is not actively engaging farmworkers where they feel safe and supported.

Stanislaus County has supported farmworkers

The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors had indicated its support of the farmworker community. In March 2023, the board spent $1 million in COVID relief funds to establish a farmworker resource center, only the third county to take advantage of state funds to create a center to help documented and undocumented farmworkers with services ranging from legal services to assistance with rent and utilities.

“This is going to be for undocumented farmworkers, and is an historic step forward and progress for Stanislaus County,” Supervisor Channce Condit told Vida en el Valle.

Earlier this year, 57-year-old almond worker Frank Hernández was honored as Stanislaus County Farmworker of the Year by the Modesto Rotary Club, AgSafe and the Stanislaus Farm Bureau. Eleven farmworkers shared $9,500 in cash awards.

Stanislaus County does value its farmworkers.

“Our Board of Supervisors really do value the importance of agriculture here in our county and they appreciate all it takes to make our farming successful,” said Pinfold, the county ag commissioner. She noted the original idea was to have five farmworkers and four ag-related people on the committee until the board decided it was best to go with 10 farmworkers.

Pinfold said it is likely the county will extend the application deadline. The county has promoted the committee openings in English and Spanish.

We hope enough farmworkers come forward to serve on the committee. San Mateo County has demonstrated the positives of such a committee, with funds being directed for farmworker housing. It would be a shame a committee designed to help farmworkers fails due to a lack of farmworkers.

This story was originally published July 17, 2025 at 12:41 PM with the headline "A new group wants to help Stanislaus farmworkers. It can’t find any to join it | Opinion."