The response to Governor Crist’s groundbreaking support for the CIW’s Campaign for Fair Food

The response to Governor Crist’s groundbreaking support for the CIW’s Campaign for Fair Food — and shot across the bow of the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange (FTGE) for its stubborn opposition to progress for Florida’s farmworkers — continues to roll in.

Here below are, in order, an article, an editorial, and a letter that all, for the most part, say the same thing: We appreciate the good words, now let’s get down to action, because change is long overdue:

Here’s an excerpt from the Gourmet article that captures the growing consensus. The article begins:

“Actions may speak louder than words, but when they are the right ones, words can be extremely powerful. And Florida Governor Charlie Crist said all the right ones in a letter he sent last week to the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, an advocacy group for farm laborers’ rights based in southern Florida…

And closes:

“Crist signed off by saying, ‘I look forward to working with you and your organization in the future to advance these important causes.’ Having spent time in Florida’s tomato fields and farmworkers’ communities, I can assure the governor that he’ll find there’s still plenty of work to do.”

Indeed. There is plenty to do, starting with moving the FTGE out of the way of progress so that the Campaign for Fair Food — and, specifically, its penny per pound raise — can take its course.

As we periodically remind the readers of this site, the arc of history does indeed bend toward justice. But we can no longer afford to wait for time alone to bring change. Rather all hands must, now, be laid on that arc to speed its bending, and in so doing, speed the day that Florida can finally put an end to its “Harvest of Shame.”