2003 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award ceremony in Washington, D.C. From left to right, Edward J. Olmos, Sen. Kennedy, Mrs. Ethel Kennedy, Al Hunt (CNN), and CIW members Lucas Benitez, Julia Gabriel, and Romeo Ramirez. |
Taco Bell agreement press conference, March 9, 2005. From left to right, Jonathan Blum, Yum Brands Vice President, and Lucas Benítez of the CIW. |
Signing of the agreement between the CIW and the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange, November 15, 2010. From left to right, the CIW's Lucas Benítez, Reggie Brown of the FTGE, and Gerardo Reyes Chávez of the CIW. |
Selected National and International Recognition of the CIW and its Members
- 2012 Food Sovereignty Award Honoree, WhyHunger, for grassroots groups transforming industrial agriculture.
- 2012 Growing Green Award, Natural Resources Defense Council, for leaders and innovators in the field of sustainable food and agriculture.
- 2011 Future of Food Conference Participants, Georgetown University, convened by the Washington Post and His Royal Highness Prince Charles Phillip Arthur George, Prince of Wales.
- 2010 Hero Acting to End Modern-Day Slavery Award, U.S. Department of State. On the occasion of the State Department's release of the 10th annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, which for the first time included the United States in its rankings. In recognition of "perseverance against slavery operations in the U.S. agricultural industry" and "determination to eliminate forced labor in supply chains."
- 2010 People of the Year, Fort Myers (FL) News-Press, in recognition of the CIW's "years of groundbreaking advocacy" and "landmark efforts, which have far-ranging implications beyond Southwest Florida."
- 2010 Adela Dwyer-St. Thomas of Villanova Peace Award, Villanova University, Center for Peace & Justice Education.
- 2009 Benny Award, Business Ethics Network, for outstanding contribution to corporate ethics.
- 2008 Sister Margaret Cafferty Development of People Award, Catholic Campaign for Human Development.
- 2007 Anti-Slavery Award, Anti-Slavery International of London (world’s oldest human rights organization) for exceptional contribution towards tackling modern-day slavery in the U.S. agricultural industry.
- 2006 Paul and Sheila Wellstone Award, Freedom Network USA, for outstanding contributions to combating human trafficking and modern-day slavery in the U.S.
- 2005 Letter of Commendation from F.B.I. Director Robert Mueller.
- 2005 Benny Award, Business Ethics Network, for outstanding contribution to corporate ethics.
- 2005 Harry Chapin Self-Reliance Award, World Hunger Year, for leadership in the fight against poverty.
- 2003 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award, RFK Memorial Center for Human Rights.
- 2002 NOW Woman of Courage Award, National Organization for Women.
- 1999 Grand Prize Brick Award, Rolling Stone magazine and Do Something Foundation.
- 1998 Cardinal Bernardin New Leadership Award, Catholic Campaign for Human Development.
Florida Tomato Growers Participating in the Fair Food Program
Click here for a current list of Participating Growers.
Corporate Retailers with whom the CIW has Fair Food Agreements
- Yum Brands
- McDonald’s
- Burger King
- Subway
- Whole Foods Market
- Bon Appetit Management Company
- Compass Group
- Aramark
- Sodexo
- Trader Joe's
- Chipotle Mexican Grill
Selected Anti-Slavery Partnerships and Collaborations
- Legislature-appointed member, Florida Statewide Task Force on Human Trafficking
- Southeastern US Regional Coordinator, Freedom Network Training Institute on Human Trafficking
- Florida Dept. of Law Enforcement (FDLE), curriculum for Advanced Investigative Techniques in Human Trafficking
- Collier County Sheriff’s Department Anti-Trafficking Unit
- US Attorney’s Anti-Trafficking Task Forces, Tampa and Miami districts
- International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), roll-call video and guidebook
- National Sheriff’s Association, guidebook
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (F.B.I), Supervisory Special Agents In-Service trainings
- North Carolina State Troopers Training Academy, training
- Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Vienna presentation
- 15th World Congress of Criminology, Barcelona panel
- U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Anti-Trafficking Unit, Washington, DC
Florida Modern-Day Slavery Museum
- The museum consists of a cargo truck outfitted as a replica of the trucks involved in a recent slavery operation (U.S. v. Navarette), accompanied by displays on the history and evolution of slavery in Florida.
- The exhibits were developed in consultation with workers who have escaped from forced labor operations as well as leading academic authorities on slavery and labor history in Florida.
- The museum has toured Florida, the Southeast, and the Northeast extensively and has been hosted at the U.S. State Department and National Mall in Washington, D.C.
- President Jimmy Carter and Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis have toured the museum.
Selected Media and Publications
- Tomatoland: How Modern Industrial Agriculture Destroyed Our Most Alluring Fruit, by Barry Estabrook, Andrew McMeel Publishing, 2011
- Nobodies: Modern American Slave Labor and the Dark Side of the New Global Economy, by John Bowe, Random House, 2007
- The Slave Next Door: Human Trafficking and Slavery in America Today, by Kevin Bales and Ron Soodalter, Univ. of California Press, 2009
- New York Times, 2010
- Wall Street Journal, 2010
- CBS Evening News, 2010
- Gourmet, 2009
- New York Times, 2008
- The Independent (U.K.), 2008
- Glamour, 2007
- PBS NOW with David Brancaccio, 2005
- New Yorker, 2003
- National Geographic, 2003