“Kids think apples come from Wegmans,” said Mary Jo Dubley at tonight’s discussion after our Farm-to-Fork meal.

It is so easy to forget about everything and everyone involved in getting an apple to our table… like the migrant farm-workers who live in fear every-day to produce them.

As I walked out of the library after the discussion, I overheard 2 students that walked out with me talk about why “they don’t just get their papers.” So instead of talking about what I learned from the speakers, I’d like to share a few things.

I was born and raised in a Juan Jose Rios, Sinaloa, Mexico which is what you would consider a “village” that relies on agriculture. I grew up on the fields helping my grandparents pick beans. Then, when I was 7 my parents brought me to this country. Since then, I have considered myself an American. I AM an American… But to this day, I have yet to be recognized as one. I have yet to have the privilege of voting. I have yet to know I can fearlessly live in this country- that I call home- for the rest of my life. And hopefully I do not have to wait ANOTHER 13 years for this to become a reality, but unfortunately, that is how it is for MANY others like myself if we don’t get deported first…