The emergence of corporations as enthusiastic contractors of produce has as much to do with their desire to control labor on farms (both household labor of farmers and of the workers they may hire) and resources such as land (as a more acceptable form than land grabbing) and water without the associated managerial or supervisory costs of doing so. Yet economists have thus far not adequately researched these aspects. We review some of the key issues relating to labor, drawing attention to women, children and health, and the environment. We reflect on how economists can better incorporate labor and environmental concerns into their analysis of contract farming.