Dear Mama’s Kitchen family of clients, volunteers, supporters, and advocates,

For years, Mama’s Kitchen has recognized the March 31st César Chávez holiday to honor the significance of the farm worker movement and to affirm our support for the equality, dignity, and respect of dedicated farm workers who are at the heart of our food system.

When we learned about the deeply troubling allegations against Cesar Chavez, co-founder of United Farm Workers (UFW) and read Dolores Huerta’s (also co-founder of UFW) own account of her experiences of abuse, I knew that at Mama’s Kitchen, we would need to thoughtfully reconsider how we observe the March 31st holiday, and we are heartened to see that state and local officials are already making much needed changes in this regard.

Mama’s Kitchen stands firmly against violence and honors the courage it takes for survivors like Dolores and others to come forward and share their stories.

As Dolores shared in her statement, “The farmworker movement has always been bigger and far more important than any one individual.” While March 31st was originally designated in recognition of one individual, it’s really about honoring ALL of those who sacrificed and worked tirelessly to advance the rights and welfare of farm workers, and to honor the farm workers themselves.

At Mama’s Kitchen, every meal we prepare is made possible by the farm workers who grow, harvest, and process the fresh produce and meats we rely upon. They are an essential part of the foundation upon which our food system relies. Our mission builds on their work, transforming those ingredients into meals that support the dignity, health, and well-being of community members who need them most.

So on this March 31st, Mama’s Kitchen is proud to observe Farmworkers Day.  We honor and thank the farm workers who sustain our local and national food systems and recognize all those whose dedication and conviction have created a foundation for change that remains as vital today as when it began.

In solidarity,

Eva Matthews