DIRECT TO YOU FROM THE SFA....REFLECTIONS ON 2008

We write today with a special year-end update as the past month has brought a flurry of activity in the Campaign for Fair Food: From the Subway agreement to the Northeast Tour, from a shocking (and revealing) statement on modern-day slavery by a rep of the FL Department of Agriculture to oodles of media coverage (much of it touching on the crucial role that students, consumers, and other farmworker allies have played in the success of the campaign).

As we reflect on the trials, tribulations, and monumental victories of 2008 (which you can relive here - http://sfalliance.org/news.html), we look forward to a new year and a new phase in the struggle.

Now that the fast-food industry has spoken, we turn our attention to the large supermarket chains and the leading food service corporations such as Aramark and Sodexo that are on many of our campuses.

For now, keep reading and check out the links below for all the latest developments!


"Specter of Slavery Persists in Fields," but apparently that's not such a big deal...
In a recent article published in the Ft. Myers News-Press, Terence McElroy, a spokesperson from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, had this to say about the rash of modern-day slavery in Florida's fields over the past decade:

"Of course, I say any instance is too many, and any legitimate grower certainly does not engage in that activity (slavery) but you're talking about maybe a case a year."

You can read the article - and the CIW's response - at http://ciw-online.org. As you might imagine, we don't share Mr. McElroy's sense that one case a year of modern-day slavery is somehow insignificant. What do you think? Is one case of slavery per year not so bad? As a consumer, you have a say in this too...


Subway agrees to work with the CIW
The December 2nd agreement between the CIW and Subway -- the largest fast-food purchaser of Florida tomatoes -- means that the four largest fast-food companies in the world have now agreed to improve wages and conditions in their tomato supply chains!

A Ft. Myers News-Press article on the agreement ("Subway to pay more for tomatoes", http://www.news-press.com/article/20081203/BUSINESS/812030388/1075) made these important observations...

"...Sherri Daye Scott, who edits QSR, a North Carolina-based food-service industry magazine, noted consumers spoke first - by supporting the coalition's petition drives, protests and boycotts.
'Until the college students and then the consumers got involved, it was not that big a deal,' Scott said.

Will fair food become an industry watchword?
'It could,' Scott said. 'I haven't heard any rumblings yet beyond the tomato pickers yet, but it could gain traction..."

...As the paper's editorial board called on the growers to end their resistance to change in Florida's fields:
"Pass extra pay to tomato workers," http://www.news-press.com/article/20081203/OPINION/81203031/1075

A must-read article from the Institute for Southern Studies also weighs in:

"When the CIW began its nationwide consumer boycott against Taco Bell, workers left the fields to carry their protest and demands across the country. Campus groups and dozens of faith groups endorsed the boycott, with students taking a strong role as ambassadors of the cause. "Boot the Bell" campaigns by students, through the Student/Farmworker Alliance, blocked or forced Taco Bell from more than 20 campuses, and boycott campaigns were held at more than 300 universities and high schools... What began as a small group of indigent, abused and ignored farm workers spawned a national movement for food justice..."
You can check out all the great coverage from the Subway victory by clicking here.


Northeast Tour comes to a close
Immediately following the Subway victory, the Northeast Tour continued, bringing a contingent from Immokalee all the way up the East Coast and back again for dozens of presentations and discussions with allies as well as visits to some of our new friends in the supermarket and and food service industries to drop off the Alliance for Fair Food letter, which you can read here: http://allianceforfairfood.org/2008affletter.html. Check out this link (http://www.ciw-online.org/2008_NE.html) for the exciting photo reports from the tour, and check back in the next day or two for the final report from NYC!

(Reminder: We're still seeking a full-time staffer/national co-coordinator to work with SFA as well as a Spring intern - check out http://sfalliance.org for the applications and more info.)

Thanks,
SFA

--Student/Farmworker AllianceP.O. Box 603Immokalee, FL 34143
web | www.sfalliance.orgphone| 239.657.8311fax | 239. 657.5055