Food Insecurity among Farmworkers in Ventura County

Abstract

Food insecurity is defined by not having enough food to be able to provide for one’s self or family. Due to limited income, food insecurity is seen more often in working class communities. One of these working class communities is farmworkers. Farmworker food insecurity is prevalent in many areas across the nation. This study focuses on farmworkers in Ventura County. Our research looks at the rate of food insecurity among farmworkers and how it varies by individual and household characteristics. The data used in this study were gathered from a Farmworker Food Insecurity Survey administered by Sociology Capstone students in March 2022. The sample consisted of 100 Latino/a farmworkers residing in Oxnard, California who participated in a face-to-face survey, orally administered in three neighborhoods. In total, there were 18 questions asked regarding demographic information, agricultural knowledge, experience growing food for self-consumption, and food insecurity. This study found that among 100 farmworkers, a total of 62% of respondents indicated that they were food insecure, and 38% were not. In addition, this study found that food insecurity varies significantly by indigeneity (p<.01). Out of indigenous farmworkers, 78% experienced food insecurity, and 22% did not. Out of the mestizo respondents, 48% experienced food insecurity, and 52% did not. Overall, more indigenous respondents experienced food insecurity than did mestizo respondents.

Details

Session 2

3:00pm – 4:30pm

Grand Salon