GROWER SURVEY 2006: What We’ve Learned
A Report by Elizabeth Horevitz
Public Outreach Coordinator
Northwest Michigan Health Services, Inc.
The following report is the result of 31 Grower Surveys conducted by Northwest
Michigan Health Services, Incorporated in Grand Traverse, Leelanau and Antrim
counties during the winter of 2006. This survey is informal and is meant to portray a
representative sample of growers in NMHSI’s Traverse City Clinic tri-county service
area. The surveys lasted between 5 and 45 minutes, depending on the depth of response.
The purpose of these surveys was to:
-To strengthen NMHSI’s ability to identify and address the health needs of
migrant/seasonal farmworkers and their families;
-To reduce barriers to accessing health, dental, and necessary support services for
migrant/seasonal farmworkers while minimizing their time away from work; and
-To help alleviate common impediments such as language differences, lack of
transportation, and misperceptions or lack of knowledge about available resources.
Please note that this survey tool has not been formally tested for research validity and is
meant for in-house edification purposes.
The Interviews
The types and place of interview were as follows:
-
In-person: 7
Phone: 23
Mail:
1
-Williamsburg: 4
-Traverse City: 9
-Suttons Bay: 2
-Northport:
3
-Leelanau:
3
-Kewadin:
6
-Charlevoix: 1
-Cedar:
2
-Empire
1
TOTAL:
31
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An additional 12 growers were mailed surveys, but did not respond.
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Section I: Grower and Agricultural Operations Data1
In order to learn more about the agricultural operations in NMHSI’s Traverse City Clinic
tri-county service area, growers were asked to list their crops, their total acreage, how
many workers they employ, the seasonal vs. migrant status of their workers, and what
kind of farming methods they use.
Crops:
-
Tart Cherries: 96%
Sweet Cherries: 93%
Apples: 70%
Peaches: 20%
Grapes: 13%
Apricots: 10%
Pumpkins: 6%
Asparagus: 3%
Other: Strawberries, plums, honey, blackberries, pears, plums, corn, snow
peas, chestnuts: 26%
Grows more than one crop: 100%
- Range of Acreage of individual respondents: 2,000- 11 acres
- Range of migrant/seasonal farmworkers employed: 150-2
Employment Trends
- Total employed (by those interviewed): 708
-
76% Both family members and migrant/seasonal workers conduct harvest
16% only migrant workers/seasonal workers conduct harvest
30% “other”: employ neighbors or college students to harvest
-
40% of those surveyed employ (at least 1) worker(s) year-round
-
57% of migrant/seasonal workers stay with same grower for more than
one crop
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*Some of the percentages in this document are based on frequency (for total group) and may not
add up to 100% because growers were able to select more than one answer for certain questions.
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Operation Trends
-
38% of growers report processing as part of operation
90% Utilize traditional farming methods
10% use both organic and traditional farming methods
Housing
-
58% of growers surveyed provide housing in the form of trailers
21% of growers surveyed provide housing in the form of apartments
21% if growers surveyed provide housing in the form of homes
-
45% of growers provide housing built/manufactured before 1978
(*Not calculated: growers who provide a combination of housing types, e.g. trailers and
apartments).
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Section II: Migrant/Seasonal Farmworker Demographics as
reported by Growers
Growers were asked about the demographic breakdown of their workers—males vs.
females, family status, and language ability. Several growers had difficulty answering
these questions, as their labor force changes yearly and per crop. When this was the case,
growers were asked to discuss their labor force from the past summer at “the height of the
season.” By in large, the numbers reported by growers are consistent with national trends.
More men are unaccompanied, while more women travel with their families. In general,
more men are employed than women. As far as language breakdown, growers reported
that 60% of their workers spoke only Spanish, with about 30% only speaking only a little
bit of English. Language barriers were an issue for most growers, though many reported
having at least one bilingual worker to interpret for them.
Total Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers employed by respondents: 708
Breakdown:
- 70% Male
- 30% Female
Male Family Status:
- 61% Unaccompanied
- 3% with spouse only
- 19% w/family w/small children
- 19% w/family w/adolescent
Female Family Status:
- 11% Unaccompanied
- 11% with spouse only
- 43% with family and small children
- 35% with family and adolescents
Language:
-
1% speak only English
60% speak only Spanish
29% speak some English but mostly Spanish
9% bilingual
1% Other (Mayan dialect)
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Section III: Health care
Challenges in helping workers access healthcare according to growers:
Growers were asked to name barriers to accessing health care that they believed their
workers might be facing. The number one challenge, according to growers, was time
away from work. Several growers discussed the difficulty they faced of “lost time”
during the height of their crop season, when workers are needed throughout the day and
evening. Fear of INS was another issue that growers named that was not included as part
of the original multiple-choice question.
- 26% Time conflicts/time away from work
- 20% Clinic hours of operation
- 16% Transportation
- 16% Language barriers
- 13% Cost
- 6% Needed service is not available in this area
Additional comments: Fear of INS
Health Benefits that would be most beneficial for workers according to growers:
When asked about what health benefits they believed would be most beneficial for their
workers, dental care came out on top (consistent with responses later gathered from
farmworkers), followed by prenatal care and immunizations. Several growers mentioned
that alcoholism was (or had been, in the past) a problem in particular for their male
workers.
- 60% Dental care
- 53% Prenatal care
- 46% immunizations
- 36% Alchohol and Drug abuse education and treatment
- 26% All other
Social Services that would be most beneficial for workers according to growers:
By far, growers listed interpretation services as the top service that would be beneficial
for their workers. This is consistent with responses later gathered from farmworkers.
- 50% interpretation/translation services
- 36% food stamps
- 36% child day care
- 30% Medicaid
- 13% All other
Additional comments: Education, Literacy programs for young children
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Health issues believed to be most affecting workers:
When presented with this question, many growers had difficulty answering, saying they
did not know the private lives of their workers, and therefore were unaware of intimate
health problems. Indeed, Diabetes and Hypertension appear at the bottom of the listsuggesting that growers may be unaware of chronic health problems facing their workers.
However, growers were much more aware of acute illness as a health issue for their
workers, topping the list at 46%.
- 46% Acute illness
- 36% Dental problems
- 30% Physical injury
- 20% Repetitive motion injury
- 16% respiratory ailments
- 13% back problems
- 10% heat/cold exposure
- 10% skin reactions
- 10% domestic violence
- 6% diabetes
- 6% high blood pressure
Other cited: TB, “children’s issues”, prenatal issues/difficulty with pregnancy,
bee stings, twisted ankles, post-partum care
Additional Data
-
2 out of 31 growers had never heard of NMHSI (“the migrant clinic”)
-
20% of growers who knew about the clinic first learned of it from
outreach workers
-
77% of growers who knew about the clinic first learned of it through word
of mouth and/or because their workers use it
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Section IV: Qualitative Data-- Collaboration
“How else can we be helpful regarding the health and well-being of your workers?”
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“Have workers exercise more for healthy hearts. Help me deal with INS.”
“Be prepared for new demographic of farmworkers from other countries and who
speak other languages.”
“Sometimes my workers have trouble finding out the clinic phone number.”
“I’ve been very pleased with your services.”
“Your services are more ‘reactive’, I think there needs to be more emphasis on
preventive care.”
“These workers are my life blood, I will do anything I can to help you help them.”
“I think you people are doing too much already.”
“Why don’t you start asking what you can do for me? I need a new dumpster.
Even if you get me one, they’ll trash it.”
“Help me with H2A. Inform workers of where it is safe for them to go—they are
too scared to drive to the clinic or get food stamps.”
“Our workers have been coming here since 1970. They know the clinic well, they
are like family to us.”
“My older male workers are very ‘macho’—I don’t think any of them have been
to see a doctor in their life. See if you can convince them to go in.”
“Offer at least some hours on Saturdays.”
“I don’t understand why the government forces H2A workers to undergo a
physical—do they not want the workers to use the migrant clinic?”
“I’ve heard from my workers that there are very long lines at the clinic, and that
they once waited for hours only to be turned away.”
“Help connect people with social service agencies. Help them fill out forms.”
“Send bilingual materials for me to post in camps.”
“Don’t try and mess with their culture, you might get shot. They are a different
people. But if you have any trouble, let me know, I’ll straighten them out.”
“Raise awareness in camps of health issues.”
“Build trust in the camps, be there when you say you will.”
“Offer evening hours and block-out time for each specific orchard.”
“Call me when my workers go in so I can know that they are going where they
say they are.”
“Be available for them.”
“Antrim is very far away from the clinic.”
“You are doing a good job already.”
“Services are extremely good.”
“We must raise our voices collectively against the current immigration laws.”
“Educate workers about legalization issues. Help them understand the situation.”
“Help growers with the H2A program.”
“Read to young children.”
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“Child daycare is the only issue.”
Additional Results:
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12 out of 31 growers requested that outreach call ahead of time and let them know
when they are coming.
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5 growers offered to help organize workers for health education
presentation/support outreach efforts
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2 growers offered their facilities for outreach/interns and wishes to collaborate in
any other way.
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As a result of the survey, NMHSI has set up three “on the road” clinics with
growers’ participation
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