Fault Lines

Invisible Hands

We examine poor working conditions for Mexican farm workers who pick the fruits and vegetables that end up on US tables.

In March 2015, thousands of farm workers in the Mexican state of Baja California went on strike, protesting low wages and poor working conditions.

Much of the produce these people pick ends up on the shelves of large supermarkets in the US, like Walmart and Whole Foods. And while much care is put into harvesting these fruits and vegetables, little attention – or money – is paid to the pickers.

Many of the labourers are unable to make ends meet with what they take home after long hours of work.

Fault Lines travelled to Mexico to investigate what is keeping wages so low for Mexican farm workers.