TIFFIN, Ohio — Fremont group, Justice for Migrant Women held a farm-to-table dinner experience on Saturday that highlighted the history of farmworkers in the community.
The event, called The Humans Who Feed Us was held at Reihm's Farm. The farm sits in between Fremont and Tiffin.
The event was topped off by critically acclaimed Miami-based chef, César Zapata.
Mónica Ramírez is the founder and president of Justice for Migrant Women. She wants people to understand the importance of agriculture and the work that farmworkers do.
"Tonight is both a celebration of farmworkers who are in our state during what is the peak season of harvesting here," said Ramírez. "So we want to make sure we are drawing a connection everyday people for our food and who's bringing it to our table."
Organizers of the dinner hope to advance civil and human rights for migrant women and families all over.
While the night was a celebration, it was also designed to create awareness on issues in the migrant community, especially for women.
Ramírez said some of the issues they are confronting are wage theft, exposure to harmful pesticides, sexual harassment, pregnancy discrimination and even human trafficking.
"There are 2 to 3 million farmworkers in our nation and it's estimated that about a million are women," said Ramírez. "In this area and this state there are approximately 6 to 10 thousand women, about 30,000 farmworkers across the state."
Laura Nadal is a community organizer for Justice for Migrant Women and said we need to give a seat to migrant workers at our own tables more.
"We need to make sure we are instilling a sense of belonging to them," said Nadal.
Ramírez said we should also honor the sacrifice from the farmworkers, immigrant food workers and other workers in the industry who are bearing the cost of the food that we eat through their labor and some of the exploitations they are experiencing.
MORE FROM WTOL 11: