Immokalee Workers Notch Another Win on Their Tomato Buckets

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/9400

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers can notch another win for workers on their tomato buckets. On Tuesday, the coalition announced Whole Foods Market had signed on to coalition’s “penny-per-pound” program where major food purchasers would pay an extra penny for Florida grown tomatoes. The idea is that those extra pennies would be passed on to the tomato pickers. In a joint statement Whole Foods Global Produce Coordinator Karen Christensen said the company made the decision after “evaluating the situation in Florida.” The plan fits with the company’s “core values.” The Coalition has had multiple successes in applying pressure on tomato purchasers. Both Taco Bell and McDonald’s have signed agreements similar to the one forged with Whole Foods.