Associate Kimberly Emery, BVM representative to the National Farm Workers Ministry, stands with berry growers in Salinas, Calif. in 2019.
The Sisters of Charity, BVM recently reflected on a legacy that stretches back half a century: standing in solidarity with farm workers.
Associate Kimberly Emery, the BVM representative for National Farm Worker Ministry (NFWM), presented an update to the congregation on the work the organization is doing, its current campaigns, and the ways that people can help.
As the congregation marks 50 years of partnership with the NFWM, the challenges facing farm workers today are just as pressing—and in some ways more complex—than ever.
“We’re celebrating 50 years in support of the National Farm Worker Ministry,” says Mary Martens, BVM, who is a past representative of NFWM. “And during those years, we have tried to follow the lead of farm workers themselves. We are not telling them what they need. We take our cue from them.“
Kimberly’s work with NFWM connects legal advocacy, grassroots organizing, and faith-based mobilization. Her message is clear: the ministry’s work is evolving, but its foundation remains unchanged—listen to farmworkers, follow their lead, and act in solidarity.
A Ministry Rooted in Listening
Unlike many advocacy organizations, NFWM does not prescribe solutions. It is a model rooted in the legacy of leaders like Dolores Huerta, co-founder of United Farm Workers. That core ideal continues to guide the ministry’s work across the country, where representatives meet directly with workers to understand their needs.
A Changing Landscape
The realities facing farm workers in 2026 are challenging: immigration enforcement, labor system changes, and climate instability among them.
Roughly two million farmworkers labor in the United States, and nearly half are undocumented. Kimberly says that immigration enforcement has created a pervasive climate of fear.
“People are afraid to go to work, to take their children to school, even to buy groceries,” she says.
“Does ICE come to the fields and round up immigrants?” asks Kitty Lawlor, BVM.
Kimberly confirmed that ICE’s presence—in fields, in neighborhoods, and in other workplaces—have heightened anxiety for workers and their families.
“It’s easy to forget how much people are living under a shadow,” says Marilyn Wilson, BVM. “There is a great deal of fear shaping daily life.”
The rise of the H-2A guest worker program, which allows U.S. employers or their agents to bring non-citizens to the U.S. to fill temporary agricultural positions, is also changing the workforce. The program provides temporary legal status, but it often binds workers to a single employer, limiting their ability to advocate for themselves. There have also been reports of rampant abuse by agents, including wage theft, sexual assault, and a myriad of health and safety violations.
“It’s not a great solution,” Kimberly says. “Workers are tied to growers, often in substandard housing, with very little recourse.”
Mary Martens, BVM visits with a farm worker during a NFWM meeting.
Campaigns for Change
Despite these challenges, NFWM continues to coordinate national campaigns aimed at improving labor conditions and holding corporations accountable.
One of the most visible efforts is the long-running boycott of Wendy’s, tied to the company’s refusal to join the Fair Food Program—developed by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, a worker-led organization based in Immokalee, Fla.
“This boycott has been going on for years,” Kimberly says. “And still, farmworkers continue to organize and push for change.”
Signs of Hope
“I do see light,” Kimberly says. “Despite everything they go through, farmworkers are among the most hopeful, welcoming people I’ve ever met.”
That resilience is visible in grassroots efforts, community support systems, and faith communities, even in today’s climate of uncertainty. Education, advocacy, ethical purchases, and direct support are a few of the powerful ways that advocates can engage and be allies for farm workers.
Marilyn commented on the importance of getting involved, staying informed, and, most of all, of sharing the stories of the farm workers.
“Stories really matter,” she says. “They help us understand not just the hardship, but the spirit of the people.”
For the congregation, the 50-year milestone is a call to deepen engagement.
“I feel incredibly supported,” Kimberly says. “And I hope you know how much that support matters—not just to me, but to the entire ministry.”
To learn more, read NWFM’s newsletter here.
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