We propose a four-day writing retreat (September 11–14) at the University of California Natural Reserve System to synthesize and advance our research at the intersection of migration, labor, and food systems. Over the past 18 months, we - the lab of Seth Holmes in the College of Natural Resource - did fieldwork to trace the ecological and social circuits of German asparagus, Spanish oranges, and California strawberries - from cultivation and transportation to consumption - revealing the hidden interdependencies that sustain these global food networks. The retreat will provide dedicated time to write up our findings and begin theorizing how ecological dynamics, co-produced with political economic circumstances, are shaping the embodied experiences of migrant workers, supply chain actors, and consumers. Immersed in the Reserve’s unique ecosystems, our team will engage in structured writing sessions, peer feedback, and conceptual discussions to generate manuscripts and refine our theoretical frameworks on human-environment relations.

In Review