Check out the CIW Press Release, previews in local press…

Farmworkers in Immokalee and allies across the country — from Boston to LA — are making their final preparations for the Farmworker Freedom March, readying to hit the streets to demand “Freedom from forced labor, poverty, and abuse” for the workers who pick Florida’s tomatoes.

Here below is an excerpt from the CIW press release, issued today:

“Publix has turned its back on human rights for far too long,” said Gerardo Reyes of the CIW. “But if Publix won’t face the reality of farmworker exploitation, then we will bring that reality to Publix ourselves.”  Reyes continued, “Forced labor, poverty, and abuse are all too real for Florida farmworkers, and we are marching to tell Publix that the days of buying tomatoes no questions asked are over.” read the press release

In the lead-up to the march, stories previewing the action have begun to appear in media across the region. Tampa’s widely-read alternative weekly, Creative Loafing, drew a revealing distinction between Publix and its competitor, Whole Foods:

“… The CIW wants Publix to make the same concessions as all the other chains — a raise of a penny-per-pound for tomatoes picked, and a code of conduct specifying the won’t buy from growers that don’t meet basic working conditions in the fields. The first supermarket to agree to the CIW’s demands was Whole Foods, and they did so quickly. That’s no surprise, says Chavez, since the chain has a reputation for organic, environmentally responsible food. ‘People who buy at Whole Foods are interested in products that are better for the environment; small farms, fair trade, all of these things … The campaign for fair food to started to see a melding with what is called the movement for sustainable food.’ Whole Foods spokesperson Libba Letton says knowledge about a product’s supply chain has always been important to their company’s identity. ‘We want to know the people who are making our food, or who are growing our food,’ Letton says.” read more

You can also check out march coverage from the Orlando Examiner, “Local Farmworker Coalition Plans March and Protests from Tampa to Lakeland this Weekend,” for an idea of the buzz building in cities across the state.

It’s not too late to join us for this weekend’s big march! If you support fundamental human rights — if you believe hard, vital work should be rewarded with fair wages and humane working conditions — you should be there for what promises to be an unforgettable event. Click here for all the details on how you can join the Farmworker Freedom March.

[And if you’re still not quite sure of the urgency of this weekend’s march, keep scrolling down and take a second to read the next couple of posts for a bit more context…]