Ted's thoughts on Niagara farmworkers

Having just spent the last month in a small village on the west coast of Mexico, it has given me a different view of Mexican life.

Most if not all of the people I have met here are simply wonderful. They go about their day making whatever money they can selling food or trinkets to the tourists. Many of them speak a bit of English and are not rude if we can’t understand each other.

Let me describe the place we are staying without naming it or being disparaging. The simple truth is that they live differently, not good or bad, just different. This place is very safe, no matter what you are reading in the papers.

Most of the roads are poorly maintained and in many cases just rocks and sand. The infrastructure is not good for water or sewer and you would think that this village is impoverished, based on our standard of living. No one wears helmets on the motor bikes, dogs and cats in the streets are running free, people ride in the back of pick-up trucks, and you won’t see plastic gloves or hairnets in the restaurants. Yet everything seems to work, and work well.

I have to say it is a very different lifestyle that most of us would have a hard time getting used to. Yet, I like it so much here that I am coming back to the same area for four months next winter. It is unique and truly authentic.   

The cost of food and accommodation can be very inexpensive. You can get breakfast for as little as $3 and dinner for as little as $6 at a food cart or restaurant where the locals go. You can also pay much more at the tourist restaurants. But I didn’t come to this part of Mexico to dine with others of my nationality or eat what I eat in Canada. That is why I don’t do all-inclusive resorts. There is nothing wrong with them — just not for me.

That gets me to the connection with Niagara-on-the-Lake and the farmworkers who come from Mexico. Many men and women will leave their families, and get the working visa to come to Niagara to work all summer because by doing this each year, they can give their families a great deal more than they can working in their own country. I have heard of one man who worked on a Niagara farm for about 10 years to put his two children through university and build a house for his family.

When I was 17 I worked on a farm picking tobacco and living in a bunkhouse with five other workers from all over for the summer. I did this for three years — you could make really good money doing that work and the money I made in six weeks kept me funded for the rest of the year.

It isn’t easy working every day rain or shine, and when you get a day off you go together to shop for what you need. In my day, generally the farmer, his family and the rest of the workers were the only people you interacted with for the entire time you worked there.

It has changed so much for the better today, but we can still do with a reminder that when we see farmworkers riding their bikes along the street, or in the local food store, we should remember they have left their families to travel to another country so that they can give a better life to their families.

They deserve kindness and respect. The next time you see a farmworker, smile and say hola. They will really appreciate it.

Ted Mouradian is an author and professional speaker.  He is president of the 2% Factor Inc. and his videos can be seen on TikTok and Instagram. Ted can be reached at [email protected]