The Coalition of Immokalee Workers is expected to expand the portfolio of farms it monitors for human-rights abuses greatly as the U.S. government seeks to bring in more workers to address a labor shortage in the agricultural fields.
The Immokalee-based human rights organization was born in a borrowed church room 30 years ago when farmworkers began sharing stories of abuse in the fields.
Those shared tales led to demonstrations, to hunger strikes and eventually to the creation of the Fair Food Program. The program is a unique partnership between farmers, farmworkers and retail food companies to ensure the food we eat is ethically sourced.
The coalition and Fair Food Program are recognized internationally for combating human smuggling and modern-day slavery in the fields.
And now 27 new farms across thirteen states are expected to join the Coalition’s Fair Food Program — effectively doubling its scope and size.
“It is huge and it is quite a statement as far as the governments confidence in the worker driven responsibility and the Fair Food Program’s ability to extend much needed protections to a vulnerable workforce,” said Laura Safer Espinoza, an advisor who oversees the Fair Food Program.
Spurred by millions in incentives from the United States Department of Agriculture, the expansion will add thousands of workers into the fold of those protected by Fair Food Program. Last growing season some 25,000 workers were afforded protections under the program.
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— WGCUChileFarmworkers04252023AM
On Tuesday, April 25, 2023, the Chilean delegation toured a tomato farm in Parrish, Pacific Tomato Growers, and got to see the Fair Food Program in action. A delegation comprising of Chilean agricultural producers, human rights activists and government representatives has traveled to Southwest Florida to meet with representatives and see the workings of the Fair Food Program (FFP) first-hand. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers, creators of the Fair Food Program, hosted the delegation for meetings, live farm tours and a look at Immokalee during the week of April 24-28th. Efforts to expand the Fair Food Program into Chile’s agricultural industry is the goal. Extending Chile’s human rights protections to workers, and certifying ethical producers, in that country.
Andrea Melendez / WGCU
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— WGCUChileFarmworkers04252023AM
On Tuesday, April 25, 2023, the Chilean delegation toured a tomato farm in Parrish, Pacific Tomato Growers, and got to see the Fair Food Program in action. A delegation comprising of Chilean agricultural producers, human rights activists and government representatives has traveled to Southwest Florida to meet with representatives and see the workings of the Fair Food Program (FFP) first-hand. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers, creators of the Fair Food Program, hosted the delegation for meetings, live farm tours and a look at Immokalee during the week of April 24-28th. Efforts to expand the Fair Food Program into Chile’s agricultural industry is the goal. Extending Chile’s human rights protections to workers, and certifying ethical producers, in that country.
Andrea Melendez / WGCU
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— WGCUChileFarmworkers04252023AM
On Tuesday, April 25, 2023, the Chilean delegation toured a tomato farm in Parrish, Pacific Tomato Growers, and got to see the Fair Food Program in action. A delegation comprising of Chilean agricultural producers, human rights activists and government representatives has traveled to Southwest Florida to meet with representatives and see the workings of the Fair Food Program (FFP) first-hand. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers, creators of the Fair Food Program, hosted the delegation for meetings, live farm tours and a look at Immokalee during the week of April 24-28th. Efforts to expand the Fair Food Program into Chile’s agricultural industry is the goal. Extending Chile’s human rights protections to workers, and certifying ethical producers, in that country.
Andrea Melendez / WGCU
4 of 14
— WGCUChileFarmworkers04252023AM
On Tuesday, April 25, 2023, the Chilean delegation toured a tomato farm in Parrish, Pacific Tomato Growers, and got to see the Fair Food Program in action. A delegation comprising of Chilean agricultural producers, human rights activists and government representatives has traveled to Southwest Florida to meet with representatives and see the workings of the Fair Food Program (FFP) first-hand. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers, creators of the Fair Food Program, hosted the delegation for meetings, live farm tours and a look at Immokalee during the week of April 24-28th. Efforts to expand the Fair Food Program into Chile’s agricultural industry is the goal. Extending Chile’s human rights protections to workers, and certifying ethical producers, in that country.
Andrea Melendez / WGCU
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— WGCUChileFarmworkers04252023AM
Arlette Martinez Ossa, Ministry of Labor in Chile. On Tuesday, April 25, 2023, the Chilean delegation toured a tomato farm in Parrish, Pacific Tomato Growers, and got to see the Fair Food Program in action. A delegation comprising of Chilean agricultural producers, human rights activists and government representatives has traveled to Southwest Florida to meet with representatives and see the workings of the Fair Food Program (FFP) first-hand. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers, creators of the Fair Food Program, hosted the delegation for meetings, live farm tours and a look at Immokalee during the week of April 24-28th. Efforts to expand the Fair Food Program into Chile’s agricultural industry is the goal. Extending Chile’s human rights protections to workers, and certifying ethical producers, in that country.
Andrea Melendez / WGCU
6 of 14
— WGCUChileFarmworkers04252023AM
On Tuesday, April 25, 2023, the Chilean delegation toured a tomato farm in Parrish, Pacific Tomato Growers, and got to see the Fair Food Program in action. A delegation comprising of Chilean agricultural producers, human rights activists and government representatives has traveled to Southwest Florida to meet with representatives and see the workings of the Fair Food Program (FFP) first-hand. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers, creators of the Fair Food Program, hosted the delegation for meetings, live farm tours and a look at Immokalee during the week of April 24-28th. Efforts to expand the Fair Food Program into Chile’s agricultural industry is the goal. Extending Chile’s human rights protections to workers, and certifying ethical producers, in that country.
Andrea Melendez / WGCU
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— WGCUChileFarmworkers04252023AM
Laura Germino, CIW, gives a tour of the museum at the Coalition of Immokalee Workers headquarters. On Wednesday, April 26, 2023, the Chilean delegation spent the day in Immokalee, home of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and the Fair Food Program. A delegation comprising of Chilean agricultural producers, human rights activists and government representatives has traveled to Southwest Florida to meet with representatives and see the workings of the Fair Food Program (FFP) first-hand. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers, creators of the Fair Food Program, hosted the delegation for meetings, live farm tours and a look at Immokalee during the week of April 24-28th. Efforts to expand the Fair Food Program into Chile’s agricultural industry is the goal. Extending Chile’s human rights protections to workers, and certifying ethical producers, in that country.
Andrea Melendez / WGCU
8 of 14
— WGCUChileFarmworkers04252023AM
On Tuesday, April 25, 2023, the Chilean delegation toured a tomato farm in Parrish, Pacific Tomato Growers, and got to see the Fair Food Program in action. A delegation comprising of Chilean agricultural producers, human rights activists and government representatives has traveled to Southwest Florida to meet with representatives and see the workings of the Fair Food Program (FFP) first-hand. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers, creators of the Fair Food Program, hosted the delegation for meetings, live farm tours and a look at Immokalee during the week of April 24-28th. Efforts to expand the Fair Food Program into Chile’s agricultural industry is the goal. Extending Chile’s human rights protections to workers, and certifying ethical producers, in that country.
Andrea Melendez / WGCU
9 of 14
— WGCUChileFarmworkers04252023AM
A tour of the museum was given. On Wednesday, April 26, 2023, the Chilean delegation spent the day in Immokalee, home of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and the Fair Food Program. A delegation comprising of Chilean agricultural producers, human rights activists and government representatives has traveled to Southwest Florida to meet with representatives and see the workings of the Fair Food Program (FFP) first-hand. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers, creators of the Fair Food Program, hosted the delegation for meetings, live farm tours and a look at Immokalee during the week of April 24-28th. Efforts to expand the Fair Food Program into Chile’s agricultural industry is the goal. Extending Chile’s human rights protections to workers, and certifying ethical producers, in that country.
Andrea Melendez / WGCU
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— WGCUChileFarmworkers04252023AM
A tour of the museum was given. On Wednesday, April 26, 2023, the Chilean delegation spent the day in Immokalee, home of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and the Fair Food Program. A delegation comprising of Chilean agricultural producers, human rights activists and government representatives has traveled to Southwest Florida to meet with representatives and see the workings of the Fair Food Program (FFP) first-hand. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers, creators of the Fair Food Program, hosted the delegation for meetings, live farm tours and a look at Immokalee during the week of April 24-28th. Efforts to expand the Fair Food Program into Chile’s agricultural industry is the goal. Extending Chile’s human rights protections to workers, and certifying ethical producers, in that country.
Andrea Melendez / WGCU
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— WGCUFarmworkerMarch03142023AM
A five-day, almost 50-miles, march began in Pakokee, FL, Tuesday morning, and will end in Palm Beach, FL, as Farmworkers and their allies gathered to march and bring awareness to the abuse and mistreatment of migrant farmworkers and bring light to the Fair Food Program. Even calling on retail giants like Wendy’s Publix and Kroger to join in on the FFP. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers led the “Build A New World March”. Pahokee was chosen as the starting point for the march after Florida’s most recent forced labor prosecution happened there. Dozens of workers were being held there against their will at a labor camp that sold watermelons.
Andrea Melendez / WGCU
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— WGCUFarmworkerMarch03142023AM
A five-day, almost 50-miles, march began in Pakokee, FL, Tuesday morning, and will end in Palm Beach, FL, as Farmworkers and their allies gathered to march and bring awareness to the abuse and mistreatment of migrant farmworkers and bring light to the Fair Food Program. Even calling on retail giants like Wendy’s Publix and Kroger to join in on the FFP. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers led the “Build A New World March”. Pahokee was chosen as the starting point for the march after Florida’s most recent forced labor prosecution happened there. Dozens of workers were being held there against their will at a labor camp that sold watermelons.
Andrea Melendez / WGCU
13 of 14
— WGCUFarmworkerMarch03142023AM
A five-day, almost 50-miles, march began in Pakokee, FL, Tuesday morning, and will end in Palm Beach, FL, as Farmworkers and their allies gathered to march and bring awareness to the abuse and mistreatment of migrant farmworkers and bring light to the Fair Food Program. Even calling on retail giants like Wendy’s Publix and Kroger to join in on the FFP. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers led the “Build A New World March”. Pahokee was chosen as the starting point for the march after Florida’s most recent forced labor prosecution happened there. Dozens of workers were being held there against their will at a labor camp that sold watermelons.
Andrea Melendez / WGCU
14 of 14
— WGCUFarmworkerMarch03142023AM
A five-day, almost 50-miles, march began in Pakokee, FL, Tuesday morning, and will end in Palm Beach, FL, as Farmworkers and their allies gathered to march and bring awareness to the abuse and mistreatment of migrant farmworkers and bring light to the Fair Food Program. Even calling on retail giants like Wendy’s Publix and Kroger to join in on the FFP. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers led the “Build A New World March”. Pahokee was chosen as the starting point for the march after Florida’s most recent forced labor prosecution happened there. Dozens of workers were being held there against their will at a labor camp that sold watermelons.
Andrea Melendez / WGCU
The program ensures workers get water, shade and bathroom breaks. It has zero tolerance for abuse. It also requires buyers pay an additional premium with the money — such as the one penny more per pound of tomatoes — being funneled down to the farmworker.
Eight farms already participating in the Fair Food Program are also receiving the USDA grants. These farms plus 27 new farms that will be associated Fair Food Program, will be getting nearly $16 million in federal grants.
Agricultural Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the agricultural support recently. The funds have also been earmarked for small and mid-size farms to address workforce needs and ethical recruitment of farmworkers on H2A visas.
The H2A program allows workers to lawfully enter the US for work. But there's been wide-spread abuses with this program.
“And because of the structural elements of the H2A program that make people particularly vulnerable — being tied to one employer, being susceptible to illegal recruitment fees, which are very prevalent — this program by the USDA acknowledged that vulnerability and gave increased incentives to growers that committed to stronger worker protections," Safer Espinoza said. "And it is a very strong statement of faith in worker driven social responsibility programs to extend that protection.”
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