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Where Our Food Comes From(25 images)
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People in the developed world don't put much thought into where their food comes from. For most of us it's a simple matter of going to the grocery store, corner convenience store or a restaurant and choosing what we want. We've lost sight of the amazing infrastructure that gets the food from the field to the table and the labor that goes into making sure we're well fed.

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  • 28 NOVEMBER 2006 - SAN LUIS, AZ: Farm workers walk through downtown San Luis, AZ, in pre-dawn darkness after entering the US at the Port of Entry in San Luis, AZ, about 20 miles south of Yuma. Farmers and agricultural producers around Yuma, AZ, are facing a growing shortage of farm workers. Increased border enforcement have deterred many illegal workers from seeking work in Arizona and long lines at the ports of entry for legal workers are leading to the labor shortage. Some labor contractors are reporting as much as a 40 percent shortage of farm workers, Yuma farmers planted 15 percent fewer acres this year, compared to last, because of the shortage. More than 100,000 acres of iceberg lettuce are cultivated in Yuma county and more than 50,000 people are employed as seasonal farm workers at the height of the harvest, which is December through February. Nearly 3,500 seasonal farm workers stand in line for up to two hours every morning at the San Luis, AZ, Port of Entry to enter the US legally to work in the fields. Experienced workers can make as much as $14 (US) per hour during the harvest.  Photo by Jack Kurtz By photographer Jack Kurtz
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  • 28 NOVEMBER 2006 - SAN LUIS, AZ: A farm worker harvests broccoli on a farm near Yuma, AZ. Farmers and agricultural producers around Yuma, AZ, are facing a growing shortage of farm workers. Increased border enforcement have deterred many illegal workers from seeking work in Arizona and long lines at the ports of entry for legal workers are leading to the labor shortage. Some labor contractors are reporting as much as a 40 percent shortage of farm workers, Yuma farmers planted 15 percent fewer acres this year, compared to last, because of the shortage. More than 100,000 acres of iceberg lettuce are cultivated in Yuma county and more than 50,000 people are employed as seasonal farm workers at the height of the harvest, which is December through February. Nearly 3,500 seasonal farm workers stand in line for up to two hours every morning at the San Luis, AZ, Port of Entry to enter the US legally to work in the fields. Experienced workers can make as much as $14 (US) per hour during the harvest.  PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ By photographer Jack Kurtz
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  • 28 NOVEMBER 2006 - SAN LUIS, AZ: Farm workers harvest lettuce in fields northeast of Yuma, AZ. Farmers and agricultural producers around Yuma, AZ, are facing a growing shortage of farm workers. Increased border enforcement have deterred many illegal workers from seeking work in Arizona and long lines at the ports of entry for legal workers are leading to the labor shortage. Some labor contractors are reporting as much as a 40 percent shortage of farm workers, Yuma farmers planted 15 percent fewer acres this year, compared to last, because of the shortage. More than 100,000 acres of iceberg lettuce are cultivated in Yuma county and more than 50,000 people are employed as seasonal farm workers at the height of the harvest, which is December through February. Nearly 3,500 seasonal farm workers stand in line for up to two hours every morning at the San Luis, AZ, Port of Entry to enter the US legally to work in the fields. Experienced workers can make as much as $14 (US) per hour during the harvest.  PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ By photographer Jack Kurtz
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  • jku03031549 - 03 FEBRUARY 2003 - YUMA, ARIZONA, USA: Harvesting broccoli on a farm near Yuma, AZ. The produce is packaged as it is picked and will be taken directly to distribution centers. More than 80 percent of the winter vegetables consumed in the United States are grown in the fields surrounding Yuma and most of the rest come from the nearby Imperial Valley of California. The fields are irrigated by water from the Colorado River. PHOTO © JACK KURTZ FOOD AGRICULTURE LABOUR By photographer Jack Kurtz
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  • 28 NOVEMBER 2006 - SAN LUIS, AZ: Farm workers harvest lettuce in fields northeast of Yuma, AZ. Farmers and agricultural producers around Yuma, AZ, are facing a growing shortage of farm workers. Increased border enforcement have deterred many illegal workers from seeking work in Arizona and long lines at the ports of entry for legal workers are leading to the labor shortage. Some labor contractors are reporting as much as a 40 percent shortage of farm workers, Yuma farmers planted 15 percent fewer acres this year, compared to last, because of the shortage. More than 100,000 acres of iceberg lettuce are cultivated in Yuma county and more than 50,000 people are employed as seasonal farm workers at the height of the harvest, which is December through February. Nearly 3,500 seasonal farm workers stand in line for up to two hours every morning at the San Luis, AZ, Port of Entry to enter the US legally to work in the fields. Experienced workers can make as much as $14 (US) per hour during the harvest.  PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ By photographer Jack Kurtz
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  • 20 MAY 1999 - PRESIDIO, TEXAS: Leopoldo Carrasco, a migrant worker from Presidio, Texas, harvests onions in a field near Presidio May 20. The workers start in the fields at first light and work until mid-afternoon or later. The temperature at the end of the work day is frequently over 100 degrees. The onion harvest in south Texas started earlier this month and ends May 21. Agriculture is the main industry in Presidio, a town of 3,000 people that borders Mexico on the Rio Grande river. Hundreds of people are employed as short term seasonal workers during the onion harvest which ends with the town's "Onion Festival" May 22. Onions are shipped from Presidio to destinations across the United States. Photo by Jack Kurtz AGRICULTURE BORDER LABOUR ECONOMY FOOD IMMIGRANTS By photographer Jack Kurtz
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  • 14 NOVEMBER 2005 - FRANKLIN, LA: A sugar cane field near Franklin, Louisiana is burned during the 2005 sugar cane harvest. The fields are burned during the harvest to clear shuck and waste from the fields and to facilitate the growth of the next crop. Louisiana is one of the leading sugar cane producing states in the US and the economy in southern Louisiana, especially St. Mary and Iberia Parishes, is built around the cultivation of sugar. Sugar growers in the area are concerned that trade officials will eliminate sugar price supports during upcoming trade talks for the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). They say elimination of price supports will devastate sugar growers in the US and the local economies of sugar growing areas. They also say it will ultimately lead to higher sugar prices for US consumers. PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ By photographer Jack Kurtz
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  • 14 NOVEMBER 2005 - FRANKLIN, LA: LEROY HATCHERSON, a worker on Jesse Breaux' sugar cane, stacks cut cane while working the cane harvest during the 2005 sugar cane harvest. Louisiana is one of the leading sugar cane producing states in the US and the economy in southern Louisiana, especially St. Mary and Iberia Parishes, is built around the cultivation of sugar. Statewide, more than 460,000 acres of land is cultivated with sugar cane and more than 27,000 people work in the sugar industry in Louisiana. Sugar growers in the area are concerned that trade officials will eliminate sugar price supports during upcoming trade talks for the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). They say elimination of price supports will devastate sugar growers in the US and the local economies of sugar growing areas. They also say it will ultimately lead to higher sugar prices for US consumers. PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ By photographer Jack Kurtz
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  • 15 NOVEMBER 2005 - FRANKLIN, LA: Raw sugar is blown into the warehouse at the St. Mary Sugar Co-Op Mill near Franklin, Louisiana during the 2005 sugar cane harvest. Sugar mills across Louisiana are being forced to warehouse tens of millions pounds of raw sugar because the sugar refineries in New Orleans are closed because of damage from Hurricane Katrina. The refineries are scheduled to reopen in late 2005. Louisiana is one of the leading sugar cane producing states in the US and the economy in southern Louisiana, especially St. Mary and Iberia Parishes, is built around the cultivation of sugar. The mill employs about 180 people. The two mills near Franklin contribute about $150 million (US) to the local economy. Sugar growers in the area are concerned that trade officials will eliminate sugar price supports during upcoming trade talks for the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). They say elimination of price supports will devastate sugar growers in the US and the local economies of sugar growing areas. They also say it will ultimately lead to higher sugar prices for US consumers. PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ By photographer Jack Kurtz
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  • 31 JULY 2009 -- GLENDALE, AZ: Cristobal Alejandro Navarette (CQ) milks some of the 1800 Jerseys on the Rovey Dairy in Glendale. The Arizona dairy industry is struggling to survive the worst milk economy some have ever seen. Due to the global recession, overseas demand for Arizona dairy products has plummeted, forcing prices down while production costs have stayed stable or gone up. For every $1 dairymen earn from milk sales, it cost them $1.50 to produce the milk. Photo by Jack Kurtz By photographer Jack Kurtz
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  • 31 JULY 2009 -- BUCKEYE, AZ: Auctioneer Peter Belezzuoli (CQ) from Overland Stockyards in Hanford, CA, works at the auction on the former Pylman Dairy Farm in Buckeye. The auction was handled by Overland Stockyards from Hanford, CA. The Arizona dairy industry is struggling to survive the worst milk economy some have ever seen. Due to the global recession, overseas demand for Arizona dairy products has plummeted, forcing prices down while production costs have stayed stable or gone up. For every $1 dairymen earn from milk sales, it cost them $1.50 to produce the milk. Photo by Jack Kurtz By photographer Jack Kurtz
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  • 23 APRIL 2007 -- FT. MCDOWELL, AZ: DENNIS ARP, an Arizona beekeeper, checks and tends his hives on the Ft. McDowell Indian Reservation about 50 miles from Phoenix. Arp has been a commercial beekeeper in Flagstaff, AZ, for more than 20 years. He said he lost almost 50 percent of his hives in the last year for no apparent reason. The syndrome has been termed "Colony Collapse Disorder" and was first reported on the East Coast of the US last fall. Researchers do not know what is causing the disorder. Stress, parasites, disease, pesticides and a lack of genetic diversity are all being investigated. German researchers are also studying the possibility that radiation from cellphones is scrambling the bees' internal navigation systems. Arp said CCD has cost him about $60,000 (US) between replacement bees and contracts lost because so many of his hives have disappeared. Photo by Jack Kurtz/ZUMA Press By photographer Jack Kurtz
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  • 23 APRIL 2007 -- FT. MCDOWELL, AZ: Bees from Dennis Arp's hives on the combs in the hives. Arp has been a commercial beekeeper in Flagstaff, AZ, for more than 20 years. He said he lost almost 50 percent of his hives in the last year for no apparent reason. The syndrome has been termed "Colony Collapse Disorder" and was first reported on the East Coast of the US last fall. Researchers do not know what is causing the disorder. Stress, parasites, disease, pesticides and a lack of genetic diversity are all being investigated. German researchers are also studying the possibility that radiation from cellphones is scrambling the bees' internal navigation systems. Photo by Jack Kurtz/ZUMA Press By photographer Jack Kurtz
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  • 19 MAY 2002 - INGOMAR, MONTANA, USA: A cowboy on the Hoff ranch near Ingomar, MT, during the branding of the spring calves, May 19, 2002. Ranches across Montana and the American west start branding their spring crop of calves in April and continue through May. This year's crop of calves is lower than in years past because of the drought gripping much of the west. Many ranches have moved to branding tables and chutes but the Hoff ranch still brands the traditional way by roping individual calves out of the herd. .PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ By photographer Jack Kurtz
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  • 07 MAY 2004 -- WILLIAMS, AZ: Cowboys drive cattle through a pasture on the Willaha Ranch, north of Williams, AZ, May 7, 2004. The ranch is in the high desert country near the south rim of the Grand Canyon. Arizona ranchers are in the midst of a ten year draught that has dramatically reduced the size of their herds. At the same time, public consumption of beef has soared because of the popularity of the Atkins and other high protein diets, so while prices are up, herd yields are down because of the drought. PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ By photographer Jack Kurtz
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  • 05 MAY 2008 -- BUCKEYE, AZ: ANGEL VARGAS, a worker at Heiden Land & Cattle Company, works in a mountain of corn in the mill at the feed lot in Buskeye, AZ. Les Heiden, owner of the Heiden Land & Cattle Company, said his corn prices have gone up by 123% since May, 2006. He attributes about 85 percent of the price increase to the ethanol industry, which he said his buying five times more corn now than they were two years ago. Heiden feeds about 4,500 head of cattle in his feed lot, which is west of Phoenix. Photo by Jack Kurtz By photographer Jack Kurtz
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  • 05 MAY 2008 -- PHOENIX, AZ: MARIA GONZALEZ and ELIZABETH LOPEZ pack corn tortillas on the production line at La Canasta in Phoenix. La Canasta uses 20,000 - 25,000 pounds of corn daily to make almost two million tortillas. Josie Ippolito, President of La Canasta, said the price of the corn she buys has shot up more than 50 percent since November, 2007 and is expected to double by the end of this year. This in addition to the 200 percent increase in the price of wheat flour she uses in other products at La Canasta. Photo by Jack Kurtz By photographer Jack Kurtz
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  • 10 NOVEMBER 2004 -- TAPACHULA, CHIAPAS, MEX: Workers on a coffee plantation near Tapachula, Mexico, process and store coffee in the plantation warehouse. Many coffee plantations in Chiapas rely on undocumented workers from Guatemala because their Mexican workers have either emigrated to the US or won't work for the wages plantation owners pay. The mountains of Chiapas, Mexico, make up some of the finest coffee producing land in Mexico. World coffee prices have been depressed by over production in Brazil and Vietnam and thousands of coffee farmers in Mexico and Guatemala have been forced to emigrate to the US as undocumented workers because of the crisis in the coffee industry. PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ By photographer Jack Kurtz
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  • 10 NOVEMBER 2004 -- TAPACHULA, CHIAPAS, MEX: Workers on a coffee plantation near Tapachula, Mexico, harvest coffee. Many coffee plantations in Chiapas rely on undocumented workers from Guatemala because their Mexican workers have either emigrated to the US or won't work for the wages plantation owners pay. The mountains of Chiapas, Mexico, make up some of the finest coffee producing land in Mexico. World coffee prices have been depressed by over production in Brazil and Vietnam and thousands of coffee farmers in Mexico and Guatemala have been forced to emigrate to the US as undocumented workers because of the crisis in the coffee industry. PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ By photographer Jack Kurtz
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  • 23 OCTOBER 2003 -- TAPACHULA, CHIAPAS, MEX: A baby sleeps while his mother harvests coffee on a finca (plantation) near Tapachula, Mexico. World coffee prices have been depressed by over production in Brazil and Vietnam and thousands of coffee farmers in Mexico and Guatemala have been forced to emigrate to the US as undocumented workers because of the crisis in the coffee industry. PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ By photographer Jack Kurtz
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  • 10 NOVEMBER 2004 -- TAPACHULA, CHIAPAS, MEX: Coffee cherries on a tree near Tapachula. The mountains of Chiapas, Mexico, make up some of the finest coffee producing land in Mexico. World coffee prices have been depressed by over production in Brazil and Vietnam and thousands of coffee farmers in Mexico and Guatemala have been forced to emigrate to the US as undocumented workers because of the crisis in the coffee industry. PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ By photographer Jack Kurtz
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  • 25 FEBRUARY 2008 -- MAE SOT, TAK, THAILAND: A 14 year old Burmese boy works in a tomato field near Mae Sot, Thailand. He said he makes about $1.50 (US) per day. His father, who works at the same farm, makes about $2.00 (US) per day. Almost all of the farm workers in the Mae Sot area are Burmese migrants, who work for about half of what Thai farm workers are paid. There are millions of Burmese migrant workers and refugees living in Thailand. Many live in refugee camps along the Thai-Burma (Myanmar) border, but most live in Thailand as illegal immigrants. They don't have papers and can not live, work or travel in Thailand but they do so "under the radar" by either avoiding Thai officials or paying bribes to stay in the country. Most have fled political persecution in Burma but many are simply in search of a better life and greater economic opportunity. Photo by Jack Kurtz By photographer Jack Kurtz
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  • Mar 22, 2009 -- SAMUT SAKHON, THAILAND: Burmese immigrants work sorting fish on the docks in Samut Sakhon, Thailand. Samut Sakhon is a fishing port and market town. Thousands of Burmese immigrants, some legal and some undocumented, work in the fisheries in town. Photo by Jack Kurtz By photographer Jack Kurtz
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  • Mar 23, 2009 -- SAMUT SONGKHRAM, THAILAND: Workers harvest salt near Samut Songkhram, Thailand. The salt farms between Samut Sakhon and Sumat Songkhram are Thailand's largest salt producing region. Salt is typically harvested for about six months of the year. The fields are prepared for salt farming as soon as the rainy season ends. First the fields are tamped down so they hold water, then they are flooded with salt water from either the Gulf of Siam or the Mae Khlong River (both are salty). After about two months, the first harvest is ready. The fields are drained and the salt picked up from the fields. Then the fields are flooded again and the process repeated. As the season goes on and the fields become saltier, the amount of time they are flooded is reduced till the end of the season when they may only be flooded for two or three days. Most of the workers in the salt fields are migrant workers from Isaan, an impoverished region in the northeast of Thailand. Once the rainy season starts and it's no longer possible to harvest salt the workers go home to work their small farms. The workers are paid based on the amount of salt their crew harvests. Each basket they carry weighs between 30 and 50 kilograms (66 and 110 pounds). Photo by Jack Kurtz By photographer Jack Kurtz
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  • Mar 23, 2009 -- SAMUT SONGKHRAM, THAILAND: Sunrise over a salt field near Samut Songkhram, Thailand. The salt farms between Samut Sakhon and Sumat Songkhram are Thailand's largest salt producing region. Salt is typically harvested for about six months of the year. The fields are prepared for salt farming as soon as the rainy season ends. First the fields are tamped down so they hold water, then they are flooded with salt water from either the Gulf of Siam or the Mae Khlong River (both are salty). After about two months, the first harvest is ready. The fields are drained and the salt picked up from the fields. Then the fields are flooded again and the process repeated. As the season goes on and the fields become saltier, the amount of time they are flooded is reduced till the end of the season when they may only be flooded for two or three days. Most of the workers in the salt fields are migrant workers from Isaan, an impoverished region in the northeast of Thailand. Once the rainy season starts and it's no longer possible to harvest salt the workers go home to work their small farms. Photo by Jack Kurtz By photographer Jack Kurtz
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