CIW & Fair Food

Images from the Coalition of Immokalee Workers’ Campaign for Fair Food.
Immokalee, Florida is a hub of the east coast agriculture industry, where several cases of modern day slavery have been prosecuted in recent years. For more information, visit www.CIW-online.org

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  The Coalition of Immokalee Workers In our society, it's rare for consumers to see where their food comes from. Here's a glimpse of worker housing in Immokalee, Florida, where most of the East coast's tomatoes are grown. Rent for a single family trailer here can cost as much as my three story house in West Philly, so workers pack in eight to a trailer in order to afford a place to live. Buy a Print
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  The Coalition of Immokalee Workers This tower represents the more than two tons of tomatoes that a worker must pick in order to earn $50 in a day. Between bending over low to pick, then hauling each bucket onto a shoulder, running to the truck where they are collected, throwing the bucket up into the truck, and returning for the next load, tomato picking is grueling work. Buy a Print
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  The Coalition of Immokalee Workers Baseline conditions of exploitation and poverty create an environment for abuse. Since 1997, the US Department of Justice has prosecuted seven cases of slavery in Florida involving over 1,000 workers. An eighth has just come to light. Buy a Print
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  The Coalition of Immokalee Workers Amidst these conditions, the voice of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers advocates for dignity and respect for all workers and an end to modern-day slavery. Their community radio station, "Radio Consciencia" (Consciousness) has the slogan "La Tuya" - meaning "yours" - run by volunteers from the community, it caters directly to the workers' needs. Buy a Print
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  The Coalition of Immokalee Workers While the conditions in Immokalee are dire, the advocacy is not dour. The CIW's actions are rich with pageantry, full of art, music, and celebration. Here, workers march across Los Angeles during their 2004 campaign demanding that fast food giant Taco Bell take accountability for the conditions in it's supply chain. Buy a Print
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  The Coalition of Immokalee Workers The buckets, easily recognized by every farmworker, have become iconic in the CIW's actions. The average rate of 45 cents per bucket has not raised significantly since 1978. As a result, workers today have to pick twice the number of buckets per hour in order to earn the minimum wage as they did in 1980. Buy a Print
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  The Coalition of Immokalee Workers A worker carries a sign during a campaign stop in Montgomery, Alabama. The exploitative conditions in the agricultural industry have created an environment where extreme abuses occur with unforgivable frequency. The Department of Justice just recently announced the prosecution of another forced-labor case, the eighth in Florida since 1997. Buy a Print
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  The Coalition of Immokalee Workers Since it's unprecedented victory in it's boycott against Taco Bell, the CIW has engaged the rest of the fast food industry, challenging them to join the Campaign for Fair Food. After signing agreements with McDonald's, Burger King, Subway and Whole Foods. The campaign is now looking for more accountability from major grocery chains and institutional food service providers. Buy a Print
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  The Coalition of Immokalee Workers While idea of "local" and "organic" have now become well entrenched in the consumer mindset as desirable characteristics for their food, "fair food" is a concept that is just beginning to enter the consciousness of the population, in large part thanks to the actions of the CIW and their allies. Buy a Print
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  The Coalition of Immokalee Workers "Sweatshop" is no exageration... While the work is done outdoors rather than in a "shop", farmworkers must run all day in the harsh sun and 95 degree heat of southern Florida as they pick, haul and toss heavy buckets of tomatoes. Over two tons must be picked to make $50 in a day. Buy a Print
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  The Coalition of Immokalee Workers Lucas Benitez, one of the founders of the CIW, addresses supporters during a rally in Irvine, Ca Buy a Print
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  The Coalition of Immokalee Workers Through victory after victory, the CIW have inspired other activists nationwide. Their use of art, theater, music and other media in telling their own story is a large part of their success. Buy a Print
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  The Coalition of Immokalee Workers Marching across Chicago, workers are joined by their allies. Through extensive outreach, the Coalition has built a broad base of support in the student and faith populations, among other friends. The goal is to educate consumers to demand social accountability from the major corporations that they spend their money with. Buy a Print
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  The Coalition of Immokalee Workers Musicians welcome the CIW and their allies in Chicago, as they prepare to celebrate their victory in the McDonald's campaign. Buy a Print
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  The Coalition of Immokalee Workers "Our sweat is not free" - one of the slogans used in a CIW action to remind consumers to consider the human costs behind low prices. Buy a Print
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  The Coalition of Immokalee Workers "Respect" - One of the farmworkers' demands is simply to have a place at the table, to have a chance to be represented in discussions that affect their lives. Buy a Print
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  The Coalition of Immokalee Workers Rev. Noelle Damico, of the Presbyterian Church USA, addresses the crowd during a rally in Chicago. Buy a Print
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  The Coalition of Immokalee Workers Long before the Obama campaign adopted the slogan "Yes we can", it was a slogan of the farmworker rights movement. Here, a column of marchers heads towards Lakeland, Fl, demanding that the Publix supermarket chain join the Fair Food movement. Buy a Print
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  The Coalition of Immokalee Workers The workers demand better conditions not just for themselves, but of course for the sake of their families. Buy a Print
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  The Coalition of Immokalee Workers As the sun sets on marchers in Lakeland, FL, a few signs make the goals clear: victory in the Campaign for Fair Food, and an end to farmworker poverty. Buy a Print