2011 Community Postcard Campaign Sample Text

Ahold USA / The Kroger Co.

Dear [Mr. Benjamin (Ahold)] or [Mr. Dillon (Kroger)]:

We are writing to ask [Ahold, parent company of Stop & Shop, Giant and Martin's or Kroger], to work with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) to ensure fair wages and working conditions for the farmworkers who pick your tomatoes.

Florida tomato pickers earn sub-poverty wages, lack many standard rights and benefits and have received virtually the same piece rate for over 30 years. One must harvest over 2.25 tons of tomatoes to earn minimum wage for a typical 10-hour workday. In extreme cases, workers are held in modern-day slavery rings through the use or threat of physical violence. Over 1,000 farmworkers have been freed from slavery rings in Florida's fields.

To date, nine major retailers, including McDonald's, Subway and Whole Foods, have reached Fair Food Agreements with the CIW to improve wages and enforce a code of cnduct for fair conditions in their tomato supply chains. Members of the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange, representing 90% of Florida's tomato industry, are working with the CIW and participating retailers to implement the Fair Food program.

As conscientious consumers, we urge [Ahold or Kroger] to join the growing movement for fair food by working with the CIW to ensure human rights and fair wages for tomato pickers.

Sincerely,

Publix

Dear Mr. Crenshaw:

We are writing to ask Publix Super Markets to work with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) to ensure fair wages and conditions for the farmworkers who pick your tomatoes.

Florida tomato pickers earn sub-poverty wages, lack many standard rights and benefits and have received virtually the same piece rate for over 30 years. One must harvest over 2.25 tons of tomatoes to earn minimum wage for a typical 10-hour workday. In extreme cases, workers are held in modern-day slavery rings through the use or threat of physical violence. Over 1,000 farmworkers have been freed from slavery rings in Florida's fields.

To date, nine major retailers, including McDonald's, Subway and Whole Foods, have reached Fair Food Agreements with the CIW to improve wages and enforce a code of cnduct for fair conditions in their tomato supply chains. Members of the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange, representing 90% of Florida's tomato industry, are working with the CIW and participating retailers to implement the Fair Food program.

Publix founder George Jenkins used to say, "Don't let making a profit stand in the way of doing the right thing." We urge Publix to do the right thing by working with the CIW to ensure fairness for the farmworkers who pick its tomatoes.

Sincerely,

Trader Joe's

Dear Mr. Bane:

As customers of Trader Joe's, we are writing to urge Trader Joe's to work with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) to ensure fair wages and working conditions for the farmworkers who pick your tomatoes.

Florida tomato pickers earn sub-poverty wages, lack many standard rights and benefits and have received virtually the same piece rate for over 30 years. One must harvest over 2.25 tons of tomatoes to earn minimum wage for a typical 10-hour workday. In extreme cases, workers are held in modern-day slavery rings through the use or threat of physical violence. Over 1,000 farmworkers have been freed from slavery rings in Florida's fields.

To date, nine major retailers, including McDonald's, Subway and Whole Foods, have reached Fair Food Agreements with the CIW to improve wages and enforce a code of cnduct for fair conditions in their tomato supply chains. Members of the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange, representing 90% of Florida's tomato industry, are working with the CIW and participating retailers to implement the Fair Food program.

As conscientious consumers, we urge Trader Joe's to live up to your reputation as "one of the world's most ethical companies" and work with the CIW to ensure human rights and fair wages for the farmworkers who harvest the tomatoes sold in your stores.

Sincerely,