Foodies Address the Slavery Issue

posted by Peter Rothberg on 03/04/2009 @ 3:07pm

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At The Nation we've tried to keep up on the good work of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, an organization comprised chiefly of Latino, Haitian and Mayan Indian immigrants working in Immokalee, Florida as tomato pickers.

Founded in 1993 as a "community-based worker organization" the organization has won inspiring victories, achieved international notoriety and established fruitful collaborations with an array of grassroots groups, notably the Student-Farmworker Alliance.

CIW's most well-known triumph came in 2005 after a four-year boycott that included a 10-day hunger strike and two cross-country "Taco Bell Truth Tours" when Yum! Brands -- the corporation that owns Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Long John Silver's -- agreed to all the CIW's demands, most importantly a one penny per pound increase in the wages of tomato pickers and worker collaboration on the drafting and enforcement of a code of conduct.

This victory helped alleviate some of the worst pay injustices facing migrant workers in the region but dramatic abuses continue in Immokalee, the tomato capital of the United States, where as much as 90 percent of the fresh domestic tomatoes are harvested.

According to what Douglas Molloy, the chief assistant US attorney based in Fort Myers, told Barry Estabrook in an excellent article in the recent issue of Gourmet magazine, Immokalee has another claim to fame: It is "ground zero for modern slavery."

As Estabrook reports, involuntary servitude--slavery--is alive and well in Florida. Since 1997, law-enforcement officials have freed more than 1,000 men and women in seven different slavery cases. And those are only the instances that resulted in convictions. Frightened, undocumented, mistrustful of the police, and speaking little or no English, most slaves refuse to testify, which means their captors cannot be tried.

Now, the CIW is focusing its efforts on convincing Florida Governor Charlie Crist -- who wields tremendous public and political influence over the state's agricultural industry -- to condemn these most egregious human rights violations.

Specifically, the campaign is asking Crist to:

1. Publicly condemn the existence of modern-day slavery in Florida;

2. Commit the full power of your office to immediately and comprehensively address the plague of abuse and forced labor in Florida's fields by:

a. Meeting with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and federal officials who prosecute these cases, and

b. Demanding that the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange renounce its opposition to implementing the agreements that socially responsible fast food and supermarket companies have signed to ensure better pay and working conditions for tomato pickers, so as to eliminate the conditions that give rise to forced labor.

Add your voice to this anti-slavery call today by clicking here, where you can learn more about the petition campaign, send an email or fax to the governor, and forward the information to friends.

It's also worth thinking about how to wean ourselves of slave-picked fruit. In the warm months, the best solution, when possible, is to buy seasonal, local, and small-scale. But what about in winter? So far, Whole Foods is the only grocery chain that has signed on to the CIW's Campaign for Fair Food, which means that it has promised not to deal with growers who tolerate serious worker abuses and, when buying tomatoes, to a pay a price that supports a living wage. Another way to go during the cold months is to buy locally produced hydroponic greenhouse tomatoes, including cluster tomatoes still attached to the vine.

Both of these options are, of course, expensive so the best course is to eat as if airplanes don't exist -- save the tomatoes for when it's warm and try to appreciate radishes, beets and their ilk when it's cold.

Comments (47)

Not again Peter...

Posted by YourJomamma at 03/04/2009 @ 3:18pm
Soon the labor law will require a union vote, they dcan form a union and the problem will be solved.

The union will win, a union gets formed ,the wages and therefore the prices go up and the tomatoes will be bought at a higher price or the field will close....

if the field closes..no problem..Obama will send them a stimulus check.

If then union vote fails, then the workers may have a cholice to face..continue to work, retun home, or find other work, or go on the welfare rolls..

Posted by YourJomamma at 03/04/2009 @ 3:21pm
... "save the tomatoes for when it's warm and try to appreciate radishes, beets and their ilk when it's cold."

posted by Peter Rothberg on 03/04/2009 @ 3:07pm

Screw that. Beets suck.

"Beef! It's what's for dinner." Sam Elliot

Posted by Benchrest at 03/04/2009 @ 3:33pm
"Beef! It's what's for dinner." Sam Elliot

Posted by Benchrest at 03/04/2009 @ 3:33pm

And Robert Mitchem..

My German grandparents loved beets...I hate them..can't eat them to this day.

Posted by YourJomamma at 03/04/2009 @ 3:37pm
My German grandparents loved beets...I hate them..can't eat them to this day.

Posted by YourJomamma at 03/04/2009 @ 3:37pm

If you're hungry enough, grasshoppers taste pretty damn good.

I guess that applies to beets as well, but I'd rather have a T-Bone if I have a choice.

We'll let FZ eat the beets.

Posted by Benchrest at 03/04/2009 @ 4:16pm
My grandma made the best pickled beets...big thick cuts too.

Thems good eatin'.

Posted by Mask at 03/04/2009 @ 4:16pm
And apparently Mask too.

I suspected you had a flaw.

Posted by Benchrest at 03/04/2009 @ 4:17pm
This seems kind of important, still, for at least two reasons:

1) Slavery is bad. Remember how when the Civil War was covered in history class, everyone was all "yeah, yeah, we know slavery is bad"? One would think we would actually remember that...The fact that we're not dealing with Africans forcibly brought to this country in slave ships doesn't mean slavery isn't implicated, and to the extent it is, we should probably, um, stop it.

2) There's a clear constitutional issue. While many rights provided in constitutional amendments are rights specifically against state action, the 13th Amendment is a notable exception because it prohibits involuntary servitude by ANYONE.

So yes...Crist should do exactly what CIW is asking for. If not, I think there's a solid argument for a lawsuit; CIW would almost certainly have standing, and the constitutional violation is equally clear.

Posted by Thrawn at 03/04/2009 @ 4:36pm
JO -- I'm sorry to bore you with tales of slavery again but still seems impt.

BENCH -- To be frank, I don't really like beets either and I hate borscht. I guess that's why people invented canning.

Posted by Peter Rothberg at 03/04/2009 @ 4:59pm
Peter- with respect to your response to JO...yes. It most certainly is important. The only way to get out of this issue is if you reject the premise that it's slavery, and I think that's an awfully hard argument to make.

Posted by Thrawn at 03/04/2009 @ 5:13pm
"Not again Peter..."

Posted by YourJomamma at 03/04/2009 @ 3:18pm

Your humanity is shit.

Do you drink before you post?

You and two year old's share the same, developmentally speaking ... emotional space. A cautionary tale, of losing to the fear of growth.

Good conservative though ...

Posted by V at 03/04/2009 @ 6:32pm
Posted by V at 03/04/2009 @ 6:32pm

Idiot.

Posted by YourJomamma at 03/04/2009 @ 6:56pm
JO -- I'm sorry to bore you with tales of slavery again but still seems impt.

BENCH -- To be frank, I don't really like beets either and I hate borscht. I guess that's why people invented canning.

Posted by Peter Rothberg at 03/04/2009 @ 4:59pm

I do not call it slavery when one comes to work for someone else and then doesn't like the wages, and there is freedom to go some where else for another job...a choice.

If one is able to get the first job, then one can get to another..

..slavery to me means someone else is holding you to do something against your own FREE WILL to do something anything else you might chose. IOW, no choice..

It has nothing to do with my feelings or my humanity as one idiot claims.

I ahte all beets in all forms..I guess except sugar.

Posted by YourJomamma at 03/04/2009 @ 7:00pm
It's Barszcz, the Polish version. Pay to attention to jomamma; he likes slavery. Oh those horrible unions who CREATED the middle class. Oh those terrible unions who made it possible for any industry that exists based on selling goods to people other than the 'captains of industry.'

I guess the slavery 'convictions' described in the article are just figments of prosecutors imaginations. Again, jomomma, run for office; save us all with your wits, intelligence and....wait for it....patriotism.

Posted by erazma at 03/04/2009 @ 7:13pm
Please pay attention to....sorry for the miscue...

Posted by erazma at 03/04/2009 @ 7:14pm
Boy, grammar troubles tonight...

I meant to write:

Oh those terrible unions, who made it possible for industries that cater to the middle class to exist.

Posted by erazma at 03/04/2009 @ 7:22pm
Welcome to Free TRADE, blackcoptermedia.com, I like cheap food prices! GLOBALIZE THIS!

Posted by thesid at 03/04/2009 @ 8:05pm
We call on all leftist and regressives to PROTEST ALL SLAVE LABOR FOOD grown in the U.S.A. and elsewhere by not eating for 1 year! Call us on how that works out!

Posted by comancheamerican at 03/04/2009 @ 8:17pm
These guys are illegal aliens who came in to work for less and under bad conditions. They displaced workers who earned more. In turn they will be displaced with even cheaper labor. Slavery is inevitable with the kind of thinking displayed in this article.

Posted by stevador39 at 03/04/2009 @ 10:08pm
It is so sad to see that most comments don't take the article seriously and rather talk about whether beets are edible or not!!! It is absolutely disgusting that such exploitative capitalism is at the very foundation of the food production system! I can add that in California perhaps there are some thousands of mexicans who work in near slavery conditions to produce a whole range of fruits and vegetables. I admire Whole Foods for their principled stance and may more companies see the light and accept some corporate social responsibility!!

Posted by samgeorge at 03/04/2009 @ 10:21pm
Posted by erazma at 03/04/2009 @ 7:13pm

Idiot

Posted by YourJomamma at 03/04/2009 @ 10:29pm
"I do not call it slavery when one comes to work for someone else and then doesn't like the wages, and there is freedom to go some where else for another job...a choice. "

Posted by YourJomamma at 03/04/2009 @ 7:00pm

"But when Lucas--slightly built and standing less than five and a half feet tall--inquired about the balance, Navarrete threatened to beat him should he ever try to leave."

See ... concept totally divorced from cognition-perception.

This is how one gets to be in the 28% club, this explains everything that comes above your name in the posts you make.

The right exists by making shit up, even if only to itself.

Posted by V at 03/04/2009 @ 10:32pm
this is precisely why i grow my own food. and, can i just say, my food is awesome.

Posted by darladoon at 03/05/2009 @ 01:03am
Are you saying all those tomatoes I see labelled Mexico and Canada really come from Florida?

What is the status of Mexican farm workers in Mexico?

Posted by JFHill at 03/05/2009 @ 01:52am
Isn't it going to be hard to stop these slavers if the state of Fla. can't prosecute them. They have no incentive to stop.

Wouldn't the CIW be effective if they intervene on behalf of the workers and get them to testify. Offer legal representation and maybe allay their mistrust of police and fear of govt.

Posted by koroviev at 03/05/2009 @ 02:18am
Fear not, ye cons & other fascists ... science is racing to the rescue. If you crooks & clowns ever get over Rush & get back into the White House, your drug company backers will be gratefully introducing Neanderthal 2 ... as German scientists (who else) have now replicated Neandertahl DNA ... & a Harvard Med scientist (where else) tells us the 1st Neanderthal can be reproduced for a mere $30M.

So once Big Pharma starts knocking out these untermenschen at cost-effective prices, you can have your slaves doing your bidding all year round. Just keep 'em fed & drugged up & you're in business. Again.

Posted by sloper at 03/05/2009 @ 06:27am
"But when Lucas--slightly built and standing less than five and a half feet tall--inquired about the balance, Navarrete threatened to beat him should he ever try to leave."

See ... concept totally divorced from cognition-perception.

This is how one gets to be in the 28% club, this explains everything that comes above your name in the posts you make.

The right exists by making shit up, even if only to itself.

Posted by V at 03/04/2009 @ 10:32p

Then the story and the issue is Navarrete. We will put aside defication in the truck(no door to go outside to do ones business? gas stations, something?), but issue remainsd the reatment of the "land lord"..Come down on Navarette and help the illegals get back home.

Not slavery..

"Frightened, undocumented, mistrustful of the police, and speaking little or no English, most slaves refuse to testify, which means their captors cannot be tried. "

Illegals...maybe they should be rescued and returned to the safety of their homeland and the tomatoe grower shut down? Is Navarette an illegfal? I think a story on him moight help.

If guilty, charged and prosecuted...if nothing nis there, then you hammer him in the Nation Rag?

Posted by YourJomamma at 03/05/2009 @ 09:58am
From 'Harold and Maude':

Mom: Harold, dear, eat your beets!

Harold: I have a sore throat.

Posted by HonestLiberal at 03/05/2009 @ 10:03am
The next time I'm at Burger King (which ain't often any more) I'll be sure to give this issue all the attention it deserves.

Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 03/05/2009 @ 10:12am
The next time I'm at Burger King (which ain't often any more) I'll be sure to give this issue all the attention it deserves.

Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 03/05/2009 @ 10:12am

Ordering a double whopper?

They make bad burgers...good fish sandwiches, if you have to eat grease..

Posted by YourJomamma at 03/05/2009 @ 11:01am
I know,JO. Thats why I'm not there anymore. Too old for that fatty stuff. (still like the little king hats, though)

Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 03/05/2009 @ 11:38am
Exmama,

Why don't you and V head over to the UAW union boys party house at the Fountainbleau Hilton ($1,000 a day resort) and ask them to take some time off off their junket, er, working meetings on how to save unions, or who to give the money to,..and send them over to help the slaves unionise against the tomatoe growers...

couldn't hurt...Bring Peter, too...The weather is nice down there right now, and both could expose the story first hand to the country, instead of the 33 people who read this blog every other day.

Posted by YourJomamma at 03/05/2009 @ 12:17pm
Peter, the issue with the working conditions on the tomato farms have been redressed severals times FL courts. However, if the abuses are continuing, then it is up to CIW to go back to the courts and argue a much stronger case against those who are in violation of FL's laws.

Governor Christ is not going to issue a blanket statement against all tomato growers just because there are a few bad apples who won't play by the rules. Let the judicial process continue until all avenues are exhausted.

IMHO, if CIW tries to push for condemnation, they may wind up getting those same workers into trouble with ICE. And with the economy down right now, it won't too difficult to replace them with American workers.

Posted by ACook at 03/05/2009 @ 1:16pm
couldn't hurt...Bring Peter, too...The weather is nice down there right now, and both could expose the story first hand to the country, instead of the 33 people who read this blog every other day.

Posted by YourJomamma at 03/05/2009 @ 12:17pm

Ha ha. That was funny. Especially the "...33 peaople..." part.

While the conditions that these people live in are indeed horrendous but I must be honest. While the Christian in me feels for them and their plight. The American in me doesn't feel too sorry for people who arrived here illegally. Now if this was happening to legal citizens, there would be more of an uproar. The only way to make the corporations pay would be to prosecute them for employing illegal aliens.

Posted by k330k at 03/05/2009 @ 1:17pm
I just read "A Crime So Monstrous" about slavery in the world, particularly Haiti and India. The definition given was substantially someone forced to work who is not paid. Seems to me the Florida problem is that the workers complain they aren't being paid enough. That seems somewhat different. Also, there is the illegals problems of wanting to stay and not being reported. That seems like a mess they got into themselves. Otherwise they could just hit the road.

Posted by jsens at 03/05/2009 @ 2:37pm
k330k

So why don't the union workers, who care so much about unions and workers, head over to the tomatoe fields and help their "brother workers"?

Or would they miss happy hour and crab claws at the tikki bar from 4-7?

Or is it, they have important meetings and conferences ..kinda like the AIG, and the WELLS FARGO "home of the $33 bounced check fee before deposits are counted" boys, in resorts as they collect their federal reward,er, monies?

All Sing..for the Union Label...

Posted by YourJomamma at 03/05/2009 @ 4:10pm
save the tomatoes for when it's warm and try to appreciate radishes, beets and their ilk when it's cold.

fill up the freezer......

Posted by frosty zoom at 03/05/2009 @ 10:58pm
If you're hungry enough, grasshoppers taste pretty damn good.

•• check out survivorman -- he eats scorpions!

•• www.survivorman.ca/

I guess that applies to beets as well, but I'd rather have a T-Bone if I have a choice.

•• beef is soooooo stupid.

We'll let FZ eat the beets.

•• beets make me feel weird. love them beet greens, though

Posted by Benchrest at 03/04/2009 @ 4:16pm

Posted by frosty zoom at 03/05/2009 @ 11:00pm
My German grandparents loved beets...I hate them..can't eat them to this day.

Posted by YourJomamma at 03/04/2009 @ 3:37pm

The beet (also known as beetroot) is:

Low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Sodium

High in Dietary Fiber, Folate, Potassium, Manganese, Vitamin C, Iron and Magnesium

The nutritional value and health benefits of beet makes it ideal for:

Maintaining optimum health

DEVELOPING SOUND REASONING CAPABILITIES

Weight loss

http://www.great-workout.com/nutrition/vegetables

/beet-nutrition-facts.cfm

Posted by frosty zoom at 03/05/2009 @ 11:03pm
These guys are illegal aliens who came in to work for less and under bad conditions. They displaced workers who earned more. In turn they will be displaced with even cheaper labor. Slavery is inevitable with the kind of thinking displayed in this article.

Posted by stevador39 at 03/04/2009 @ 10:08p

so legalize this kind of worker.

we do here and it has worked out well for all involved.

but then you wouldn't have any more halfprice workers........

Posted by frosty zoom at 03/05/2009 @ 11:07pm
What is the status of Mexican farm workers in Mexico?

Posted by JFHill at 03/05/2009 @ 01:52am

nafta squished them.

Posted by frosty zoom at 03/05/2009 @ 11:08pm
Many of my tomatoes are slave picked.

I grow my own.

I pay income tax.

Uncle sam uses that money to bail out the irresponsible.

I feel slavish.

Posted by bleedingheart at 03/06/2009 @ 9:50pm
I should probably eat vegetables. My wife is always on me about that. I do eat a lot of fruit and I often have a V8, does that count?

Posted by uPay2Play1 at 03/06/2009 @ 11:10pm
It is so sad to see that most comments don't take the article seriously and rather talk about whether beets are edible or not!!!

Posted by samgeorge at 03/04/2009 @ 10:21pm

Welcome to The Nation! The first five or six posts are on topic. After that, it's 'Return of the Bride of Chucky'. And the name calling.

Posted by ficheye at 03/08/2009 @ 5:24pm
Now no one supports slavery but the description of the people involved: "Frightened, undocumented, mistrustful of the police, and speaking little or no English, most slaves refuse to testify, which means their captors cannot be tried." I think the term "undocumented" sort of implies they might, maybe, possibly, be....illegal aliens and NOT Immigrants!! - ah, the horror! Might someone ask: Why are they here in the first place? "Good Grief Charlie Brown!"

Posted by pyeatte at 03/08/2009 @ 10:06pm
V: "But when Lucas--slightly built and standing less than five and a half feet tall--inquired about the balance, Navarrete threatened to beat him should he ever try to leave." So? Someone was threatened - first time that ever happened, right? Look, unless you are chained or locked up or under gunpoint, you can escape - you might get hurt but so what, you would still try. Just because a prosecutor calls something one thing (slavery in this case) doesn't make it true. Prosecutors makeup all sorts of crap to manipulate the legal system. Sometimes they get away with it, sometimes they don't. For them it is only about getting a conviction, not necessary the truth. Slavery does have a very specific definition. It includes actual physical captivity and work for no pay.

Posted by pyeatte at 03/08/2009 @ 11:20pm
Now for the illegals, do they think they are being cheated, abused and taken advantage of - in short, that their life here in the good old USA sucks? Sure, but is it better than the rat hole from which they came? Most likely. Are the people they work for good people? Hell no, but by being here illegally, they set themselves up by being vulnerable to people willing to exploit them. So what, life sucks for a lot of people including everyday US citizens. But it is not slavery - some other crime, possibly - L&I violations, non payment of employment taxes - all possible. But it still does not make it slavery.

Posted by pyeatte at 03/08/2009 @ 11:39pm