Farmworker

By David Bacon - The strawberries, blackberries and blueberries sold everyday in U.S. supermarkets are largely picked by these indigenous families. Their communities are very closely connected, all along the agricultural valleys that line the Pacific Coast. These migrants come from the same region of southern Mexico, often from the same towns. They speak the same languages - ones that were thousands of years old when Europeans first landed on this continent. Increasingly they talk back and forth across the border, sharing tactics and developing a common strategy. Indigenous farm workers labor for a small number of large growers and distributors who dominate the market. One of the largest distributors is Driscoll's. Miles Reiter, retired CEO and grandson of its founder, says its intention is "to become the world's berry company." Driscoll's contracts with growers in five countries, and even exports berries from Mexico to China.