The UW Foundation and a coalition of organizations advocating for farm workers issued a statement today expressing “concerns related to the COVID-19 and its potential impact on the farm worker community.”

The statement comes a day after the Department of Homeland Security issued guidelines defining critical jobs that must continue operating during the coronavirus. Among the workers defined essential are farm workers. “We are grateful for all of those who are addressing this issue at all levels of government, not to mention those who are on the frontlines battling it,” the organizations stated. “It is our hope that as these plans are being devised, farm workers are not forgotten or left behind.”

Some of the risks posed to farm workers include health, housing, employment, education and childcare, migration, violence and exploitation. “Farm workers feed the world, bringing fruits, vegetables and other crops to homes across the nation,” the organizations continued. “Their work is critical, yet they and their work have not been properly valued.”

The complete statement is available, bit.ly/2WsnT8l