Our Team: Meet Aldo

Better Way Farms relies on the work of a dedicated farm crew who join us for the summer season. We know that without them and their incredible effort, we would be unable to do the work that we love and unable to share the bounty of our farm with you. We see our farm as a community and we believe that it is a Better Way. Today, we would like to introduce you to Aldo, who along with his family, is working at the farm for his second summer.

Aldo is the son of migrant workers. When you ask Aldo, who is now 19 years old, what it means to be a farm worker, his response is, “for me it’s someone who moves state to state following the agricultural cycle. Whether it’s picking oranges in Florida, apples in Washington, asparagus in Michigan or blueberries in North Carolina. My family goes where the crop grows.”

Essentially, it is a life on the road. Spending months at a time in one region only to move to another when the season changes. It can be a difficult lifestyle for families with children - constant transition. Moving to a new house, starting a new school, leaving old friends on a frequent basis.

Even as small child Aldo could see the dedication his parents had for their family and their work and it made an impression on him. As we traveled, he said, “I didn’t have a say in what school I went to, the only thing I could control was how much I learned and what my grades would turn out to be.”

In each new school and his parents continued to support his studies every step of the way. Aldo shared, “My parents did not have a life of ease and were pushed into responsibilities from a young age which left education off the table for them. However, that didn’t stop them from wanting better for themselves.” His parents impressed upon him that when someone has an education, there are so many more opportunities available.

For Aldo, there are parts of the migrant experience that are exciting and positive – such as cross-country drives, learning about America and the different states, and the new opportunities that come from each location. But there are parts that are difficult. “The travel between states was always my favorite, but it comes with a small price. Before we can even hit the road we must always first pack everything and clean the whole house. Sometimes I like the places where we live but I know that it only lasts for a few months, since my parents must always look for a new place to live so I get used to it, living in different houses with different styles of architecture. Not only that but I also have to say goodbye to my new friends that I make while living at a new area.” But Aldo will tell you, the grounding force through the changes has been his family.

Despite challenges, the family is happy to have the opportunity to work and to grow. They believe it has all been worth it. Aldo’ parents are his role models – they have shown him what it means to be dedicated to family and to be proud of the work you do each day. Aldo recently graduated from high school with a 3.65 GPA and is about to begin his freshmen year in college. He is still determining his major – possibly engineering. He has a love of painting and hopes to continue to cultivate his art in some capacity. His talent recently won him first place in a local art contest. His parents are proud of him and are excited to see where the future takes him.    

Aldo knows there are other migrant families coming to the US for the first time. His advice is to “always listen to your parents! And stay focused on school and even if you make a wrong step, don’t let that stop you. Do your work because it pays off.” From watching other friends in school, he knows that the better your grades, the greater your chances are for academic opportunities and scholarships. And while the focus is often on how parents help their children, Aldo thinks there is so much migrant children can do to help their parents succeed. They can help their parents to learn English or help with translation. They can also help navigate any cultural changes they might be experiencing in the US. For Aldo and his family, it has been all about supporting one another.

We are grateful for the work that Aldo and his family has done for Better Way Farms. This summer Aldo has been working for us as an intern. He helps in our packing facility, helps with food safety initiatives, and is also taking on writing projects.