National Farm Workers Day is a holiday observed annually on March 31st, dedicated to honoring the dedication and extremely hard work performed by everyone working in the agriculture industry. It’s a day for people to think about where their food comes from and to acknowledge that without the hardworking individuals who cultivate this food, we would all be a lot worse off.

The global food supply is generally stable thanks to farm workers, and that’s why we all should take the time to observe this day. So perhaps people should take a stroll through their local produce section on this day and think deeply about everyone who is responsible for that food.

The History of National Farm Workers Day

Farming has been a necessary part of human civilization for thousands of years. In fact, without farming, there would be no human civilization — at least, not as we know it. Farming provides food, shelter, and clothing for communities around the world.

It’s known that humans have been farming since at least 10,000 BCE in the Middle East, and maybe even longer than that. Ancient peoples raised livestock such as goats and sheep, and crops such as wheat and barley.

Over time, the work of farmers expanded the number of fruits, vegetables, and grains available through a process known as artificial selection. Humans chose the plants and animals they liked and then shaped them through years of selective breeding.

Farming was revolutionized during the 19th and 20th centuries as modern technological advances brought better farming tools and transportation into existence. Synthetic fertilizers, steam-powered machines, and improved breeding methods allowed farmers to produce more food on less land.

This evolution of the farming industry has continued, and as a result, farmers are able to keep the world supplied with the foods that they want and not just what is local.

National Farm Workers Day has its roots in the farm worker movement of the 1960s and 1970s. This movement was led by Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta and the newly formed United Farm Workers (UFW) labor union.

These individuals and the UFW helped to stage numerous strikes that brought attention to the injustices that farm workers faced in the U.S. This holiday serves as a reminder that we need to treat all of our farm workers with respect and show them the appreciation they deserve.

Observing National Farm Workers Day

National Farm Workers Day is a holiday that should be observed by anyone who has food to place on their table. It’s a day for people to thank farm workers and to show them appreciation, and we think everyone should at least give farm workers a shout-out on social media using the hashtag #NationalFarmWorkersDay. It’s the least we can do.