Celebrating National Latine and Hispanic Heritage Month

September 15 to October 15 is National Latine and Hispanic Heritage Month, an observance that recognizes contributions made by Hispanic and Latino Americans. “Hispanic Heritage Month” initially began as a weeklong celebration in 1968 under President Lyndon Johnson who, at the time said, "The people of Hispanic descent are the heirs of missionaries, captains, soldiers, and farmers who were motivated by a young spirit of adventure, and a desire to settle freely in a free land. [...] This heritage is ours.” The celebration begins in the middle of September to coincide with independence days in several Latin American countries: Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica celebrate theirs on Sept. 15, followed by Mexico on Sept. 16, Chile on Sept. 18 and Belize on Sept. 21.

The contributions of Hispanic and Latine farmers (including farmworkers*), to US agriculture are significant and often go unrecognized. Latine and Hispanic farmers are the backbone of US agriculture - 78% of all farmworkers identify as Latine/Hispanic. 

According to the 2017 US Agriculture Census, there were over 112,000 Hispanic farm operators across the country, working over 32 million acres of land, including 1,355 organic operations owned by producers of Hispanic, Latine, or Spanish origin. They represent the fastest-growing group of farmers, contributing billions of dollars in agricultural sales annually.

Many Latine and Hispanic farmers face unique challenges, such as access to healthcare, fair wages, and safe working conditions. Organizations like the United Farm Workers (UFW), founded by César Chávez and Dolores Huerta, have been at the forefront of advocating for the rights of these workers, securing better wages and working conditions while highlighting their indispensable role in the food system.

The contributions of Latine and Hispanic farmers are not just economic or labor-based but cultural as well. Latine agricultural traditions have shaped the way all Americans grow and enjoy food, with crops like tomatoes, corn, and chili peppers—staples of Latin American cuisine—becoming integral to American diets. 

As we celebrate Latine Heritage Month, it is important to recognize not only the past and present contributions of Latine and Hispanic farmers but also the future they are shaping. These farmers, laborers, and entrepreneurs are essential to the U.S. agricultural economy and will continue to be so for generations to come.

To truly honor their contributions, we must advocate for policies that support Latine and Hispanic farmers and agricultural workers, ensuring they have access to resources like education, land ownership, and fair labor practices. This will empower future generations to continue the agricultural legacy of their ancestors while fostering a more equitable and sustainable food system.

We encourage you to follow and support organizations that represent and advocate for Hispanic and Latine farming communities, such as:

Other resources:

  • OFRF has a new Spanish Resources page on their website, and is working with the USDA to create resources in both English and Spanish to assist farmers in accessing funding support programs. 

  • CCOF grants and education resources (including Spanish language support), available to organic and transitioning farmers: https://www.ccof.org/foundation/grants-education/ 

  • NPR article: Yes, We're Calling It Hispanic Heritage Month And We Know It Makes Some Of You Cringe 

  • (And to finish, a non-organic agriculture specific resource) Alt.Latino's 'El Tiny' takeover is back — and this year it's all about love  

*In this post and in attempt to truly represent who is growing our food, we are considering farmworkers as farmers. Mentions of “farmers” in this blog post include farm owners and farmworkers, unless specified.

Alice Runde