The Colorado Immigrant Food Systems Workers Rapid Response Team formed in March of 2020 in direct response to the COVID crisis, this group focuses on concerns important to immigrant and undocumented food workers as communities consistently left unaccounted for and intentionally omitted from published data. Many of the group conveners are longstanding advocates for agricultural system reform and/or advocates for immigrants and have worked tirelessly to support those embattled by detention and deportation. We have reached a critical point in time. 

 

The COVID-19 crisis has exposed a dark and vulnerable truth of our food system and one which we can no longer afford to ignore: Colorado lags far behind other states in funding to support food system workers, and groups who work on behalf of these groups, to secure vital protections, particularly for immigrant and undocumented communities. For these marginalized groups who have wrestled with financial and social vulnerability, with life and death consequences on a daily basis, the pandemic has intensified their already fragile situation. We must do better, and respond quickly and with long term vision to address the needs of these communities. We as a community and food system are also suffering the effects of ignoring this vital segment of our workforce.