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Ag workers' labor honored
Greenfield event brings 9,000
By NICK RAHAIM
GREENFIELD - For the past 14 years a coalition of government agencies,
nonprofits and businesses have used the Labor Day weekend to celebrate
the work and contributions of farm workers in south Monterey County.
"Farm workers feed America," said Jesus Lopez, president of South County
Outreach Efforts which organizes Dia Del Trabajador Agrícola (Day of the
Farm worker). "But they are often the most overlooked people of our
society," Lopez said.
Dia Del Trabajador Agrícola brought nearly 9,000 people to Patriot Park
in Greenfield on Sunday with live music from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The event not only celebrates farm workers but also provides these
mostly low-income workers information on social services available to
them, said Emma Bojorquez, an outreach representative for the California
Employment Development Department and a director of SCORE.
More than 30 booths were set up by organizations such as California
Rural Legal Assistance, Clinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas, and other
local agencies.
While Mexican food and music were the festival focus, organizers used a
raffle to give people an incentive to get information about the service
providers on hand.
Those in attendance who visited at least 10 agencies became eligible for
a raffle prize.
"A lot of people don't know that there are agencies in south county to
help," Bojorquez said. "Many think they have to go all the way to
Salinas for job training, legal assistance and other social services."
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