Two Florida Growers Sign Agreements with CIW
Jon Esformes of Pacific Tomato Growers shakes hands with Lucas Benitez of CIW. Photo courtesy of CIW
October 2010 – Two of Florida’s largest tomato growers have made direct agreements with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. On Wednesday, October 13th, in a moving press conference, Jon Esformes, operating partner of Pacific Tomato Growers quoted Abraham Joshua Heschel saying, “'Few are guilty, but all are responsible'. ... The transgressions that took place are totally unacceptable today and they were totally unacceptable yesterday.'" He went on to insist that farmworkers must have the same rights and protections as white-collar workers. Read more and see the photo gallery from this historic press conference. And the momentum for change picked up speed as Six L’s Packing Company, the largest tomato grower in Florida signed a similar agreement with the CIW on October 21st.
Pacific and Six L’s have agreed to pass on the penny-per-pound increase paid by retail food corporations and to adopt the Code of Conduct at the heart of the campaign. The code includes a cooperative complaint resolution system, a participatory health and safety program, and a worker-to-worker education process aimed at insuring that farmworkers themselves are active participants in the social responsibility efforts. Learn more
These two agreements pave the way for other Florida growers to follow suit. And they place further pressure on grocery industry leaders, Ahold, Publix, Kroger and Trader Joe’s, to step up to the plate and join the nine fast food and food service corporations that are already working with the CIW. Send an email to the CEOs of these grocery companies and urge them to act now.
