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“The ones who are on their best behavior keep coming”: H-2A farmworkers in Idaho

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  • Meierotto, Lisa
  • Som Castellano, Rebecca
  • Hyland, Carly

Abstract

H-2A farmworkers in the United States live in a state of liminality, navigating systemic precarity as they move between their home countries and employment in the U.S. While the H-2A program offers benefits such as legal passage across the bor­der, a guaranteed minimum wage, housing, and transportation, the program also presents signifi­cant challenges. Some scholars claim the H-2A program is akin to modern-day slavery and argue temporary agricultural wodrkers experience unfree­dom in their labor. In this paper, we share data related to H-2A farmworkers collected during a 2022 study on pesticide risk and exposure in Idaho. Drawing upon interview and survey data, we explore the precarity inherent in the H-2A pro­gram, and consider logistical, financial, and socio-emotional challenges facing H-2A workers, high­lighting the experiences of a small group of farm­workers in Idaho. Through the analysis of this data, we find evidence that H-2A farmworkers in Idaho experience liminality, precarity, and unfreedom. This paper is a timely call for additional research on H-2A farmworker experiences. We highlight specific issues, concerns, and trends that warrant additional study.

Suggested Citation

  • Meierotto, Lisa & Som Castellano, Rebecca & Hyland, Carly, 2025. "“The ones who are on their best behavior keep coming”: H-2A farmworkers in Idaho," Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, Center for Transformative Action, Cornell University, vol. 14(3).
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:joafsc:362794
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