Essential but Excluded: Undocumented Farmworkers and the Structural Foundations of Food Security in California

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the role of undocumented farmworkers in sustaining food security in California, a state that produces a substantial share of the United States’ fruits, vegetables, and specialty crops. Despite their central contribution to agricultural productivity, undocumented farmworkers experience persistent legal, economic, and social vulnerabilities that threaten both worker well-being and the resilience of the food system. Drawing on qualitative interviews with farm owners and stakeholders, economic and market analyses, and an extensive review of food security and labor policy literature, this study examines how undocumented labor supports food affordability while simultaneously absorbing structural risks within the agricultural economy. The findings demonstrate that undocumented farmworkers are essential to preventing labor shortages and stabilizing food prices, yet they face disproportionately high levels of food insecurity, exclusion from social safety nets, and hazardous working conditions. Immigration enforcement and policy uncertainty further exacerbate supply-chain fragility. This study concludes that sustainable food security in California requires policy interventions that integrate immigration reform, labor protections, and long-term agricultural sustainability. Addressing these issues is essential not only for farmworker equity but also for the stability of regional and national food systems.