– Adriana Torres, 2022 SAF intern
Episcopal Farm Worker Ministry
Hello, my name is Adriana Torres. I am a rising sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a daughter of immigrant parents who have worked in food processing companies for the majority of their life. I have grown up and lived my entire life in North Carolina, with fields across the street and tractors on all our main roads. Agriculture is one of the biggest and most important industries here and I have become aware of how essential farmworkers are for our economy, our state, and for our well-being.
Unfortunately, I have also learned that their living conditions are not the best and involve low wages, limited access to health benefits or care, extended exposure to the sun, and transportation barriers. The majority of farmworkers here in the United States are immigrants or have an H-2A visa which grants them a restricted stay and time to work in the United States. Throughout high school and now in SAF, I have been able to learn more about the challenges and disparities farmworkers face.
Immigrants face many challenges too, and as a daughter of one, I see the similarities between farmworkers and my parents. These are individuals who will do anything to help their families, to provide for even the bare minimum, but most importantly, who will leave their loved ones and their country for their children’s future.
I am very excited to be an intern at Episcopal Farmworker Ministry through SAF this summer. I am looking forward to hearing others’ stories, assisting workers, and making a change while learning about social justice.