August 10, 2020 - COVID-19 related farm stress has been exacerbated during the busy harvesting season. In June, ten temporary workers at the Jones & Church Farms in Tennessee tested positive for the coronavirus. “This was the scariest thing that could happen,” said Renea Jones Rogers, the farm’s food safety director.
Some temporary workers are unsure if their COVID-19 related care would be covered by any insurance. Furthermore, seeking care can feel risky for migrant workers who are undocumented. Migrant workers with green cards have voiced concern about the use of public programs, including healthcare, being weighed against their applications for citizenship.