Traitor Joes?

Posted on by CIW

Traitor Joes?… Massive rally outside Trader Joes location in NYC (right) sends Fair Food message loud and clear to natural food giant!

PLUS: What they’re saying about the Sodexo agreement!…

Just Harvest USA is an exciting new organization working within the growing food justice movement with a particular focus on farm labor justice. According to the Just Harvest website, their mission is “to build a more just and sustainable food system with a focus on establishing fair wages, humane working conditions and fundamental rights for farmworkers.”

Last week, while we were covering the museum tour and the big Sodexo agreement, Just Harvest reported on the huge protest outside a newly-opened Trader Joe’s store in New York’s famed Chelsea neighborhood. The protest was organized by another exciting organization that’s also new to the food justice movement — the Community Farmworker Alliance out of New York City — and from all indications it couldn’t have been a more successful action!

Since the Just Harvest report was so complete, we’ll just direct you there to see the full photo report, media links, and analysis of the Trader Joe’s action. Here below is a quick excerpt to get you started:

August 20, 2010 – New York City’s Community Farmworker Alliance launched the opening salvo of its Trader Joe’s campaign with a spirited action on the West Side of Manhattan that attracted nearly 150 Fair Food allies. The protest targeted the chain’s recently opened supermarket on 6th Avenue in Chelsea.

Click here for the photo report!

As the New York Examiner reports (“Trader Joe’s protest produces distracted shopping,” 8/20/10):

“For one evening, at least, the supermarket chain Trader Joe’s was unable to enforce its pledge to provide “distraction free shopping.” While a sign advertising this pledge encourages consumers to “feel free to ignore anyone with a clipboard or cheap folding table without feeling any guilt at all,” the crowd outside the door could not be ignored. Having a marching band helps. The protesters were allies of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) who assembled to demand that Trader Joe’s sign an agreement that would increase wages by 1 cent for every [pound] of tomatoes the workers pick…. Today’s demonstration was the first step toward escalating the campaign.” read more

Meanwhile, coverage of the Sodexo agreement has been strong and very positive. Here’s a couple links to get you started:

News continues to break fast and furious around the Campaign for Fair Food, so check back soon for the very latest!