Farmers just want to farm. As a rule they are reluctant to engage in the kind of public controversy being generated by the activists. The worker protests are staged at times critical to harvest and since the harvest time is very limited, farmers need to minimize the disturbance to make sure they can harvest and sell their produce. Given the one-sided treatment by media reports on farmworker disturbances, farmers are more reluctant than ever to allow reporters on their farms and be interviewed. This adds to the problem as understandable as it might be. The Protect Farmworkers Now project is directly addressing the harm caused to workers by the union activism and efforts to eliminate the guest worker program, but in the process it will also help show that farmers care about their farm workers and provide invaluable work opportunities. This is the first farmer-directed program aimed at giving farmworkers, farmers and the farm community a public voice on this important issue.
