Human Heart Farming's

By Kara rowe

NONE OF US WOULD EAT if we didn’t have a farming landscape based on safety, innovation, and human touch. In Washington state we are fortunate to have so many locally grown items that fill our grocery store shelves and restaurant plates. None of that would be possible if we didn’t have people who work hard every day to care for our food and the lands where it is raised. From the laborers in the orchards and fields keeping them free from pests and harvesting a the peak of freshness, to the bookkeepers and managers who implement safety standards and ensure everyone is treated fairly, the heartbeat of a farm would collapse without the people involved caring deeply for the animals and plants they are growing.

Three of Washington's most abundant crops are especially dependent upon farm labor. Asparagus (above) can grow 7-9" each day and must be harvested by hand every day.

Sweet cherries (middle) always look so sweet and plump because they've been harvested, processed and packed by hand. Like asparagus, cherries must be harvested within a very brief window, or they will go bad.

Apples (bottom) are Washington's most famous fruit, and they also require gentle harvesting by human hands. Apple orchards account for nearly 1/4 of all agricultural employment in the state of Washington!

Farm labor is a hot topic in Washington, and it's something we need to discuss in order to really understand the full situation. As new technologies are implemented on the farm, labor needs have changed over the years, and both growers and farm laborers are adapting to the changes.

As machinery, computers, and GPS have changed how laborers do their jobs, they are still critical to a farm’s success. Farmers trust workers with thousands, if not millions, of dollars in equipment. Plus the millions of dollars invested in each crop. The trust between farm owners and workers is incredible and it’s part of the unique culture within agriculture.

On many Washington farms, the same farm workers return year after year. Many of them have been a part of the farm for years and are considered part of the family. Many workers also bring relatives and the next generation with them when they return for the season. Farmers create tight relationships with their workers, and it’s often a relationship that is passed down from generation to another. The importance of multi-generational farms goes beyond the owners. Laborers and owners have worked together for generations and they have a mutual respect for each other. They both need each other.

Farming is not an easy job. It’s never been easy work, just ask any farmer over 50. I remember as a kid picking rock, pulling weeds, and herding cows. Now, as an adult, I appreciate the sweat and grit that work taught me. The farm isn’t just a place or an 8-5 occupation. It is a life. And it takes many people to make it successful.

Since humans began harvesting food either through gathering native plants or by growing specific crops, it’s been hard work. How do we value that? No matter how technologically advanced equipment and systems become, there will always be an element of grit, tenacity, and labor required. As a person who eats, I’m so thankful there are farmers and workers who are willing to work hard and ensure my food is as safe, affordable, and delicious as possible.