Camacho, who worked in the import-export business in Mexico City, moved with his wife to Watsonville 13 years ago. I tried to find another job, but they ask you what experience you have, and what languages you speak. No one wanted to hire a monolingual Spanish speaker whose only job experience lies south of the border. After three years on the farms, Camacho moved to the New West Foods Cannery in Watsonville, cleaning and canning strawberries, working six to 15 hours a day, seven days a week. Most of the employees are migrants, Camacho says.
Senior employees have the option of working year round at the cannery.
The rest either move, or find temporary winter jobs. During his 10 years, Camacho eventually got year-round work. In earlier years, he worked at Martinelli's during the winter months. And he kept studying English. Now he's a migrant support teacher at Mintie White Elementary.