""Milk with dignity": collective agency and social inclusion of immigrant farmworkers in rural Vermont

Immigrant farmworkers from Latin America represent a significant percentage of the labor force in dairy farms of Vermont. Hispanic farmworkers in dairy farms of Vermont have experienced multiple social, economic, and... [ view full abstract ]

Immigrant farmworkers from Latin America represent a significant percentage of the labor force in dairy farms of Vermont. Hispanic farmworkers in dairy farms of Vermont have experienced multiple social, economic, and environmental challenges. Some studies have shown the benefits that fair food programs may represent for immigrant farmworkers in the United States (U.S.). Academic works and fair food programs organized by farmworkers have focused on the improvement of labor and housing conditions for immigrant farmworkers but little is known about how these types of initiatives can occur and whether they facilitate social inclusion in U.S. rural communities. By analyzing interviews to farmworkers and members of a non-governmental organization advocated to help immigrants in rural Vermont, this study explores how collective solidarity and agency influenced social inclusion of new immigrants in rural Vermont. Preliminary results from this study show that multiple campaigns and the development of a fair food program for the dairy industry, organized by farmworkers and the active participation of long-term residents, have improved economic, political, social, and cultural inclusion of immigrant farmworkers in Vermont communities. The collective work done by a non-governmental organization led by farmworkers and multiple actors from the civil society enabled the active involvement of other actors from the state and the market and the development of laws and programs which have improved social inclusion of immigrants in rural Vermont. Results from this research aim to enrich the existing sociological literature and similar initiatives on fair food programs, immigration, and social inclusion of immigrants in rural U.S.