Meatpacking in Minnesota: How Migration and Labor Transformed Worthington (episode 109)

Dr. Roger Horowitz

Roger Horowitz is an historian of American business, technology, and labor and an expert on the nation’s food. He has written widely about the consumption and production of meat in America. Currently he is the Director of the Center for the History of Business, Technology and Society at the Hagley Museum and Library and serves as secretary-treasurer of the Business History Conference. When given the chance, he also teaches at the University of Delaware.

Andrea Duarte-Alonso

Andrea- Duarte-Alonso is a first generation Mexican American who grew up around the meatpacking industry. Born in Kansas where both her parents worked in the meatpacking industry, Duarte-Alonso would spend much of her childhood moving across the midwest to various meatpacking plants. In 2006, the family move to Worthington, MN and would eventually put down roots. After leaving for college, she would return to Worthington, where she felt a sense of community and home.

Today, Andrea is an English and Language Arts teacher in the Worthington School District. She is also a writer specializing in non-fiction essays, poetry and freelance journaling. Currently she is working on her oral history project, “Stories from Unheard Voices,” focused on collecting and bringing forth the voices of first and second generation immigrants who reside in greater Minnesota. With this project Duarte-Alonso hopes to bring marginalized voices to the forefront, making sure their stories are heard.

Antonio Morales

Antonio Morales was born and raised in Worthington, MN. His parents immigrated to Florida from Guatemala and like many in the meatpacking industry, moved around the country to various meatpacking plants before they settled in Worthington. His father has spent more than 20 years working in the meatpacking industry. Starting as a production worker at JBS, he now works on the kill floor. Today, Antonio joins his father at JBS but as part of the night crew responsible for cleaning and sanitizing the kill floor. He describes it as a fast-paced job as they need to have the floor ready for the first shift at 6am. Morales has fond memories growing up in Worthington, attending Sunday league soccer games with his parents.

Leonardo Duarte

Leonardo Duarte is the father of Andrea Duarte-Alonso and has been working in the meatpacking industry since 1992. From La Piedad, Michoácan, Mexico, Duarte started his career at Excel/Cargill, in Dodge City, Kansas. While in Kansas he met his wife, a Mexican immigrant from Guerrero who also worked in the meatpacking industry. The two would go on to have a daughter and son. Always looking for better opportunities, the Duarte family moved throughout the midwest, spending time in Nebraska, Michigan and Iowa, eventually landing in Worthington where Leonardo continues to work at JBS. Enjoying the weather and the opportunities the city provides, the Duarte family has planted their roots in Worthington. Their son also works in the meatpacking industry, while Andrea is a teacher with the Worthington school district.