Growing Communities
California Strawberry Fields of Opportunity
California berry fields provide some of the best-paying jobs and benefits for rural communities. More than just rows of crops, strawberry ranches are fields of opportunity—where people grow alongside the fruit they cultivate, building better lives for themselves and their families.
This industry isn’t just about producing strawberries; it’s about creating pathways to prosperity and empowerment for tens of thousands of hardworking individuals who are the backbone of our agricultural heritage. We believe a fair, safe, and equitable work environment can transform lives, strengthen rural communities, and nourish our state’s future.
Competitive Wages & Advancement
- Guaranteed Minimum Wage: California berry farms guarantee at least the state’s minimum wage. California wage and hour laws outpace other states including the highest minimum wage in the nation and stringent overtime pay provisions for farm workers.
- Boost Earning Through Piece Rate: During peak strawberry harvest, there are incentive opportunities for workers to boost their earnings. As wages adjust with demand, farm workers can earn more than $30 per hour.
- Career Advancement Pathways: From picker to supervisor to owner—training and advancement programs help employees grow. In fact, 50% of California strawberry farm owners began their careers as farm workers.
- Safe, Healthy Workplaces: Environments free from discrimination, harassment, or exploitation.
Comprehensive Benefits & Training
- Health Insurance: Farms with 50+ employees provide health care coverage to most farm employees, complying with the Affordable Care Act.
- Medical & Disability Insurance: All farm employees receive insurance for work-related injuries and illnesses.
- Prompt Workers’ Compensation: Under California’s workers’ compensation system, employees get medical treatment for on-the-job injuries or illnesses—regardless of fault.
- Supervisor and Farmworker Training: On-farm training of employees is mandated in California and must be documented. This includes:
- Providing information about pesticide safety regulations, wage and overtime requirements, heat illness prevention, disease and injury prevention, among other mandated training sessions.
- Ongoing supervisor training for foremen and crew bosses to help employers provide a safe, fair and equitable work environment.
- Farm worker training materials, which are tri-lingual (Spanish, English and Mixtec) to help communicate appropriate and effectively with employees.
Economic & Community Impact
- National Leadership: California produces nearly 90% of the nation’s strawberries, many on multi-generational, family-owned farms.
- Sector Support: The industry sustains jobs across 30+ sectors, from on-farm roles to manufacturing, distribution, research, and education.
Equal Opportunity: Hiring, training, and advancement open to all, regardless of background or identity.
- Minority Ownership: California strawberry farming has generated the most minority-owned farms in the country—nearly two-thirds of farm owners are Latino.
- Today, 65% of California’s strawberry farmers are Mexican-American, many of whom began their journey in the fields as farmworkers. Asian-Americans comprise about 20% of strawberry farm owners, while European-Americans represent approximately 15%.
- Women are also taking on an increasingly prominent role in farm ownership, breaking traditional barriers and helping to shape the future of agriculture.
