Agricultural experts at the University of California, Davis have started a COVID-19 education program to help at-risk farmworkers stay safe while on the job. 

Teresa Andrews, an education outreach specialist at UC Davis, teaches agricultural workers how to protect themselves while providing essential work that feeds all Californians.

She's part of the COVID-19 Statewide Agriculture and Farmworker Education Program that launched to help stop the virus's spread among these essential workers.

"If they stop what they are doing, then we don't have food on the table," Andrews explained.

Last summer, the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency granted the program $3 million to provide farmworkers with the proper safety training to reduce their risk of contracting COVID-19.

Andrews said UC Davis is now able to work with nonprofit agencies in large agricultural areas all over the state to talk directly with farmworkers.

"It's better to invest in health and safety by having a strong program," Andrews added.

She helps educate agricultural workers by creating online training covering everything from how the virus works to signing up for a vaccine.

Andrews said farmworkers are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 because they often live, work, and carpool in close quarters with each other. 

"They are the ones producing the food, they are risking infection every day, so by protecting them, reducing the risk, we will have vegetables and fruits on the markets," Andrews explained.

She said the program's primary goal is to conduct research to improve the health and safety of agricultural communities throughout California.

Andrews hopes the multi-million dollar project will ultimately help thousands of farmworkers stay healthy and informed while providing food for the nation, she said.