2012 Encuentro brings the Fair Food Nation to Immokalee

Sept 22, 2012 -- Last weekend saw the return of a storied tradition, as over 70 students and young people from across the country converged in Immokalee -- the birthplace of the Fair Food movement -- for the 2012 Encuentro.

The Encuentro comes at a particularly critical moment in the fight for Fair Food. Following the first full year of implementation of the Fair Food Program -- recently hailed in the Washington Post as "one of the great human rights success stories of our day" -- farmworkers are seeing glimpses of a New Day dawning on Florida agriculture. And yet Chipotle Mexican Grill clings to the past, the lone fast food holdout bent on forging a "Food With Integrity" brand that ignores the voices of farmworkers. The supermarket industry likewise stands as a bulwark against the rising tide of Fair Food, its resistance firmly anchored by Florida's hometown grocer, Publix.

Our work cut out for us, the Encuentro began abuzz with energy in a room full of faces both old and new. Over the course of the weekend, we built skills, crafted strategy, and strengthened the relationships that will sustain us for the long haul (click here to see the full photo report!) By the end of our time together, we were ready to bring the struggle home -- equipped and animated to organize in communities across the country and strengthen the Fair Food Nation; to bring Chipotle, Publix, Kroger and Ahold into the light of a New Day.

As we met in Immokalee, action was also percolating elsewhere in the country. Up in Chicago, allies overtook the Chipotle Cultivate Festival. Supported and bolstered by our own solidarity action in Naples, they connected with Windy City consumers who echoed the demand that Chipotle cultivate a genuine relationship with farmworkers -- one based on accountability, transparency, and commitment.

The week of September 10-15th was dubbed "CIW Week" in Gainesville, Florida, where allies organized a number of educational events and a lively picket outside Publix. Farmworkers made a guest appearance with the Florida Modern Slavery Museum, highlighting the role of the Fair Food program in addressing the roots of the agricultural industry's worst injustices.

Up in Tallahassee, members of FSU Advocates for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (AIRR) led a march to the local Publix - demanding accountability from Florida's largest supermarket. The protest came after a day of classroom presentations and an on-campus bucket display highlighting the disparity between the sale price of tomatoes and the piece rate paid to the farmworkers who pick them.

If this month has been any indication, the coming season is gonna be a good one - chock full of action, energy, and (hopefully) victory! Up next: the Chipotle Cultivate Festival hits Denver. Rest assured we'll be there to welcome our friends to the Mile-High City.

Labor Day Weekend of Action a resounding success! Students, youth tell Publix: "Cut the lies, join the Fair Food Program"

September 5, 2012 -- Labor Day is the one time each year we stop to recognize the contributions and struggle of working men and women around the world. And what better way to celebrate than to stand with farmworkers in the fight for Fair Food and take to the streets?

Well, hundreds of students and young people did just that this Labor Day weekend, joining farmworkers at Publix protests and manager letter delegations from Miami, Florida, to Knoxville, Tennessee, and nearly two dozen cities in between. Their message was clear: "We're not buying the lies that Publix is telling, and we won't stop short of a true commitment to Fair Food."

Click here for a full photo report, and check out the media roundup below for coverage of the latest from the Fair Food Nation!

Fair Food Program helps end the use of slavery in the tomato fields (Washington Post, 9/3)

Farmworkers picket Publix over tomato-picker wages (Tampa Bay Online, 9/3)

Dozens of activists demonstrate outside Publix Knoxville, TN (NBC-WBIR, 9/2)

Consumers to picket outside Publix for refusal to join Fair Food Program (West Orlando News, 8/31