BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — For nearly three decades, Griselda has spent her days pruning trees in Kern County orchards, working through scorching summers, freezing mornings and everything in between. On a cold December morning near Bakersfield, she was back at work — doing the job that helps put food on tables across the country.
Just a few rows away, Evelyn worked alongside her. Like many farmworkers, she said this year has been especially difficult. Immigration raids, changing policies and financial pressures have left families anxious and uncertain, even as the work in the fields continues.
“This year has been hard,” Evelyn said, describing the fear many feel as immigration enforcement intensifies.
Despite the uncertainty, she said farmworkers have little choice but to keep going.
Field supervisors say winter is typically one of the busiest times in the Central Valley — often called the “food basket of America” for its role in producing much of the nation’s fruits, nuts and vegetables. But immigration raids that began earlier this year caused many workers to stay home out of fear, leaving crops unpicked and disrupting the agricultural workforce.
Amid that backdrop, several community organizations brought support directly into the fields through a holiday outreach event known as “CampesinXmas.” Farmworkers were served hot meals, received toys for their children and connected with groups offering help with labor rights, immigration questions, food access and health care resources.
Organizers say bringing services directly to the fields is critical, as many workers lack the time or ability to visit offices after long workdays. The event also aimed to build trust at a time when fear keeps many families from seeking help.
As Christmas approaches, workers like Griselda say the outreach offered something they haven’t felt in a long time: recognition. After a year defined by uncertainty, the visit served as a reminder that their work matters, and that even during the hardest seasons, community support can still reach the fields.