Representatives and supporters of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, whom I wrote about on 8/21, set off this morning on a 200-mile bike ride to from Ft. Myers to Lakeland, Florida, to the headquarters of Publix Supermarkets, Inc. Their mission is to invite Publix CEO Ed Crenshaw "to visit Immokalee in person, to walk with workers in the streets of their community, and to learn first-hand about farmworker poverty and why it is so crucial that Publix participate in the Fair Food Program."
Publix has stores in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama. It also operates the Crispers restaurant chain in Florida. Publix ranks 8th on Forbes' 2010 list of America's largest private companies, and had profits (not revenues, profits) of over $1.2 billion in 2009.
This is not the CIW's first communication with Publix. CIW has been writing, peacefully demonstrating at headquarters, and picketing local stores for two years without success. Though other national food retailers, including Taco Bell, McDonald's, Burger King, Aramark, Whole Foods and Bon Appetit, have signed the agreement, Publix has refused.
During a recent "pray-in" at a Publix supermarket,
Advocates stood in checkout lines at Publix with 32 pounds of tomatoes — a pile of produce Immokalee farmworkers earn about 50 cents to harvest. They paid $79.63 for the tomatoes.
[quote from Ft. Myers News-Press]
The workers must pick more than 2.25 tons to make minimum wage over their 10-hour shifts.
A week ago, CIW supporters gathered at Naples United Church of Christ for a "Prayerful Sendoff" of the Immokalee cyclists, led by local religious leaders. About 10 area clergy were expected to accompany CIW folks on the ride.
[end: no text below the jump]