Mon May 20 2013
Departments
Ohio

Trader Joe’s and The Coalition of Immokalee Workers Sign Fair Food Agreement
by Alison Mochizuki, Director Public Relations, Trader Joe's
February 12, 2012

Monrovia, CA/Immokalee, FL -- Trader Joe’s and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) announced today that they have signed an agreement that formalizes the ways in which Trader Joe’s will work with the CIW and Florida tomato growers to support the CIW’s Fair Food Program.

The Fair Food Program is a groundbreaking approach to social responsibility in the US produce industry that combines the Fair Food Code of Conduct – a set of labor standards developed in a unique collaboration among farmworkers, tomato growers, and the food industry leaders who purchase Florida tomatoes – with a small price premium to help improve harvesters’ wages. The goal of the Fair Food Program is to promote the development of a sustainable Florida tomato industry that advances both the human rights of farmworkers and the long-term interests of Florida tomato growers.

“We are truly happy today to welcome Trader Joe’s aboard the Fair Food Program,” said Gerardo Reyes of the CIW. “Trader Joe’s is cherished by its customers for a number of reasons, but high on that list is the company’s commitment to ethical purchasing practices. With this agreement, Trader Joe’s reaffirms that commitment and sends a strong -- and timely -- message of support to the Florida growers who are choosing to do the right thing, investing in improved labor standards, despite the challenges of a difficult marketplace and tough economic times.”

About Trader Joe’s: With the opening of the Naples, Florida location, Trader Joe’s operates 367 neighborhood grocery stores across the nation. More information at www.traderjoes.com.

About the CIW: The CIW (www.ciw-online.org) is a community-based farmworker organization headquartered in Immokalee, Florida, with over 4,000 members. The CIW seeks modern working conditions for farmworkers and promotes their fair treatment in accordance with national and international labor standards. Among its accomplishments, the CIW has aided in the prosecution by the Department of Justice of six slavery operations and the liberation of well over 1,000 workers. The CIW’s Campaign for Fair Food has won unprecedented support for fundamental farm labor reforms from retail food industry leaders, with the goal of enlisting the market power of those companies to demand more humane labor standards from their Florida tomato suppliers.

Important Notice: The CIW thanks the tens of thousands of Fair Food activists around the country who helped make this tremendous step forward possible, especially those who had planned actions in over 40 cities this coming weekend. Naturally, in light of today's great news, the CIW is calling off the actions planned for the new Trader Joe's store in Naples. Similarly, we ask that all other actions planned for this weekend be cancelled, and that organizers and consumers who were planning to attend instead take a moment to congratulate Trader Joe's for having joined the Fair Food Program.

Onward to Publix, and the rest of the supermarket industry...


Alison Mochizuki, Director Public Relations, Trader Joe's
(626) 599-3779
amochizuki@traderjoes.com







Recent Ohio Articles

Re-examining the Lucasville Uprising: Essay 7
  December 28, 2012
  Staughton Lynd

CMHA tries to erase black history: Poindexter Village History Advisory Group cries "foul"
  December 24, 2012
  Chief Baba Shongo, Convener of the Poindexter Village History Advisory Group

Unions, friends, need volunteers to help Columbus families in need!
  December 11, 2012
  Bruce Bostick

Unions push back -- can manager pay raise!
  November 30, 2012
  Bruce Bostick

Ohio city OK's raise for manager, shaft for public workers!
  November 27, 2012
  Bruce Bostick

Campaign of prisoner sabotage hits Mansfield Correctional
  November 13, 2012
  Ben Turk

Celebrating the life of Brother Nommo X (James E. Brown) 1947-2012
  November 13, 2012
  Free Press staff

Re-examining Lucasville: Essay 6
  November 8, 2012
  Staughton Lynd

Re-examining Lucasville: Essay 4
  November 8, 2012
  Staughton Lynd

Join the Free Press and other concerned citizens in Election Defense
  November 5, 2012
  Gerry Bello

Re-examining Lucasville: Essay 5
  October 18, 2012
  Staughton Lynd

Ohio lobbying to be home for drones
  September 14, 2012
  Bob Fitrakis

Re-examining Lucasville: Essay 3 - A Tragedy?
  September 1, 2012
  Staughton Lynd

Re-examining the Lucasville uprising Essay 2: What Caused the Uprising?
  July 29, 2012
  Staughton Lynd

“We’re fighting for our families” say striking Ohio refinery workers
  July 16, 2012
  Bruce Bostick

Transport settlement will strengthen Columbus
  July 11, 2012
  Bruce Bostick

Prosecutor and judge oppose Ohio execution
  July 5, 2012
  Amnesty International

At-large City Council elections and the suppression of free speech in Columbus
  July 2, 2012
  Joe Sommer

Re-examining the Lucasville uprising: Essay 1
  June 30, 2012
  Staughton Lynd

National student congress called for in August in Ohio
  June 16, 2012
  Bruce Bostick

Open letter to Columbus City Council President Andrew Ginther
  June 9, 2012
  Columbus Coalition for Responsive Government

Ohio Super Max Prisoner Resumes Hunger Strike
  June 4, 2012
  Ben Turk

OSP Hunger Strike Ends
  May 10, 2012
  Ben Turk

OSP hunger strike enters second week
  May 8, 2012
  Ben Turk

Ohio Super Max hunger strike continues and expands
  May 3, 2012
  Ben Turk

25 Ohio Super Max prisoners start a hunger strike
  May 1, 2012
  Ben Turk

Ohioans rally against "War on Women!"
  April 29, 2012
  Bruce Bostick

Truth in Sentencing: 3200 prisoners stuck in Ohio Prisons
  March 28, 2012
  Dan Cahill, Central Ohio Prisoner Advocates

Near East Side Residents Express Concerns about 'Revitalization'
  March 13, 2012
  Tom Over

A History of Traditional Democrat Party Support for a More Open Columbus, Ohio City Council
  March 13, 2012
  Columbus Coalition for Responsive Government

WVKO AM Radio Station's 2nd Annual Bash
  March 12, 2012
  Lydia Merrion

BREAKING NEWS---VICTORY AT COOPER!!
  February 23, 2012
  Bruce Bostick

Ohio Students Form Student Association, Call on Others to Organize
  February 14, 2012
  Stuart McIntyre

Trader Joe’s and The Coalition of Immokalee Workers Sign Fair Food Agreement
  February 12, 2012
  Alison Mochizuki, Director Public Relations, Trader Joe's

Open Letter to Sherrod Brown
  February 7, 2012
  Bob Sheak, Athens Ohio

Roe turns 30: Columbus protests
  January 24, 2012
  




Read Ohio Articles by Year:
2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000



FREE PRESS EMAIL UPDATE


Donate to the Free Press Election Protection Fund to help us investigate and monitor election fraud in this year's election.


Donate to The Free Press The Free Press Store

FOLLOW US ON
twitter
facebook


SEARCH THE FREEPRESS




1021 E. Broad St. Columbus, OH 43205 | 614.253.2571 | truth@freepress.org
All content © 1970-2012 The Columbus Free Press
Disclaimer