Final answer:
The 'crop' that growers planted, as metaphorically expressed by Cesar Chavez, refers to the long-term consequences of their actions and practices. This 'crop' could manifest as social unrest from workers or prosperity from sustainable practices, reflecting a causal relationship similar to the anticipation a farmer must have when choosing seeds that will affect future harvests.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Cesar Chavez said that the growers are now “reaping the harvest” of their actions over decades, he uses the phrase metaphorically. In this context, the “crop” that the growers planted refers to the consequences of their long-term practices and behaviors. These might include social, economic, or labor-related outcomes that have come to fruition after years of certain actions, such as the treatment of workers, investment strategies, farming methods, or even public policies. If the growers planted unfair labor practices, they might now be facing a harvest of unrest and demands for change from the labor force. Alternatively, if they sowed innovative agricultural techniques that were sustainable, the harvest could be a more prosperous and stable farming enterprise.
The agricultural metaphors used in historical and social contexts serve to illustrate the causal relationship between past actions and present outcomes, emphasizing the importance of thoughtful planning and the consequences of actions over time, much like a farmer must consider what seeds to plant in anticipation of future harvests.