“Only when the last tree has been cut down, the last fish been caught, and the last stream poisoned, will we realize we cannot eat money.” That’s a very wise Indian saying that we all should have listened to a lot more by now…

With the novel COVID-19 virus and mass quarantines around the world, humanity is now realizing that maybe if we had paid our farmers, scientists and health care employees more than we pay our favorite celebrities or football players, we wouldn’t be in the situation we’re in today. Because the truth is that in times of scarcity and emergency, the things we take for granted become essential – and there is nothing more essential than food.

The agricultural industry is the backbone of the U.S. economy, and Mexican farm workers play a big part in that, since they are the main workforce of this country’s agricultural sector. So, if you think building a wall at the Mexican border is a good idea, I invite you to think again.

There are more than 250,000 farm workers who came to the U.S. last year using H-2A visas, and the majority of them are Mexican. While holding a PhD at Harvard is surely a big accomplishment, being a farmer is too – it’s all relative. So please remember, while you are safe in quarantine, these farmers are exposed to the elements while getting paid minimum wage, just so we can put food on our tables.

Next, check out how a couple Mexican entrepreneurs are making sustainable leather from cactus: