Beyond the Furrows
"Beyond the Furrows" is a 12-part series about farmworkers in Santa Barbara County. Through feature reporting, KCBX's Francisco Martinez explores a variety of issues this population faces, including wage theft, labor trafficking, access to health care, problems with immigration status and more. Journalism combined with intimate profiles of individual farmworkers provide a comprehensive, in-depth look at the people who make the food we enjoy possible.
"Beyond the Furrows" received a regional Edward R. Murrow Award for News Series and Society of Professional Journalists Northern California's community journalism award.
"Beyond the Furrows" was funded by a grant from the Sunflower Foundation.
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In the final episode of Beyond the Furrows, hear from farmworker Amancio about his desire to be a good citizen and to connect with his community, and also about his hopes for love and a better life. Also, hear from historian Matt Garcia about why farmworker rights should matter to average citizens all over the US. -
An American odyssey toward citizenship spanning 36 years is something many farmworkers don't often experience. Maria's life is that odyssey — and much more. -
Reina Salvador's journey is one of transformation from a struggling single mother and field worker to a woman who wants to give back — not just to her family, but to her community as a farmworker rights organizer. -
We speak with Francis Salvador, a 23-year-old farmworker and mother, about her hopes, her life’s stories, and her goal to return back home to Mexico with her family. -
Farm labor contractors are an aspect of the agricultural world that is not as well known to the general population as farmworkers themselves, and yet about 40% of California's crop workers come from farm labor contractors. So what are farm labor contractors? KCBX News explores that question by talking to local contractors, community organizers, farm managers and others. -
Farmworkers are exposed to pesticides — it's a risk that's part of the job, according to one farmworker in this episode, in which you’ll hear about the risks, the regulations, and the agencies trying to offer solutions to limit exposure and facilitate reporting incidents. -
Farmworkers face a disproportionate burden of COVID-19. Getting them vaccinated is vital, but challenging. The population’s health inequities led Santa Barbara County’s Public Health Department to launch “health equity clinics,” which help overcome obstacles to vaccination, such as language barriers and mistrust. -
State agencies and local labor organizers caravan across the Central Coast to advocate for farmworkers and inform them of their rights. -
Take a step inside the town of Guadalupe to learn about a community whose history goes hand in hand with agriculture. -
Historically, agriculture has lacked protections for its workers, which makes them more vulnerable to labor trafficking. So what is being done locally to combat labor trafficking?
