Plus… Protests set for May 1st at Trader Joe’s stores in 18, 19, 22 different cities… and counting!
On April 22, an email came in to the CIW’s general account that knocked us all here in Immokalee for a loop (a really good loop). It was such an inspiring email that we thought the best thing to do was to simply share it in its entirety with everyone involved in the Campaign for Fair Food. So, without further ado, here it is:
To the great people at CIW,My name is Steven Deheeger and I am proud to represent the South Bronx CSA, a community organization committed to agricultural and social justice. Our mission is to transform the South Bronx from a food desert into an accessible and affordable food oasis.
I am writing to let you know that we have declined to accept a donation from Trader Joe’s in light of their refusal to recognize the human dignity of the farmers who supply their company. Please find our letter attached below. We are also writing to let you know that we wholeheartedly support your struggle and would be excited to discuss any opportunities to move forward together.
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To say that this remarkably selfless act of solidarity is appreciated is a vast understatement (any small organization fighting to survive in these days of economic crisis knows just how tough a decision it is to turn down funding). It is both a truly powerful demonstration of commitment to a more just food system on the part of our friends at the South Bronx CSA and a resounding message to Trader Joe’s that this campaign — a campaign that resonates particularly well with the company’s target market, people who think about the food they eat — is only getting started.
And growing rapidly, too!… The picture at the top of this post is from an action in North Beach, San Francisco, that took place on Sunday, April 17th, and this coming weekend a national call for action has been launched in the Trader Joe’s campaign, with cities across the country organizing protests at their local Trader Joe’s stores. Coordinated by the folks at Just Harvest USA, the call for action, in celebration of May 1st (international Labor Day), is growing by the week and is expected to reach at least 25 cities by the weekend. Here’s the rundown as it stands today — have a look at the list and join the action in a city near you!:
National May Day ActionsNew York City Date/time: Friday, April 29, 6:00 pm Location: Union Square Trader Joe’s (142 E. 14th St.) Contact: cfaoutreach@gmail.com New York City Scarsdale, NY Orange, CT Portland, ME Philadelphia, PA Washington, DC Baltimore/Towson, MD Atlanta, GA Chicago, IL Madison, WI Minneapolis, MN Phoenix, AZ Tucson, AZ Olympia, WA Santa Cruz, CA Los Angeles, CA Santa Ana, CA Albuquerque, NM Pittsburgh, PA Hartsdale, NY Cleveland, OH |
If you don’t see your city here and would like to participate, contact damara@justharvestusa.org today!