To: Kevin Murphy, CEO of Driscoll's
The high cost of cheap strawberries
It is important to me to know that the food I eat was not grown with dangerous pesticides or unfair labor practices.
Recently, I have heard about the untenable situation at two major suppliers of yours, Sakuma Brothers in Washington and BerryMex in Baja California. Farmworkers have accused the companies of troubling issues, including low wages, sexual harassment, child labor, hazardous pesticide use, wage theft, and retaliation.
With a new growing season coming up, it is critical that you enforce your own labor and environmental standards. Please demand that Sakuma Brothers act in good faith to negotiate a contract with the independent farmworker union Familias Unidas por la Justicia, and demand that BerryMex renegotiate with Alianza Nacional, Estatal y Municipal.
Recently, I have heard about the untenable situation at two major suppliers of yours, Sakuma Brothers in Washington and BerryMex in Baja California. Farmworkers have accused the companies of troubling issues, including low wages, sexual harassment, child labor, hazardous pesticide use, wage theft, and retaliation.
With a new growing season coming up, it is critical that you enforce your own labor and environmental standards. Please demand that Sakuma Brothers act in good faith to negotiate a contract with the independent farmworker union Familias Unidas por la Justicia, and demand that BerryMex renegotiate with Alianza Nacional, Estatal y Municipal.
Why is this important?
Driscoll’s -- one of the most well-known names in strawberries, raspberries and blueberries -- is in hot water. Over the past few months, the company has been under fire from farmworkers for low wages, shabby housing conditions, and anti-union retaliation at two of its major suppliers.
Strawberry farms are already some of the most dangerous places to work due to heavy use of toxic pesticides. These chemicals can harm people by drifting over nearby communities, including the labor camps where many farmworkers live.
Driscoll’s requires its suppliers to sign its “Promise for Workforce Welfare” agreement, which includes “no tolerance” for certain disreputable labor practices. Yet, it claims that the situations at Sakuma Farms and BerryMex are the responsibility of its suppliers. In fact, Driscoll’s has never stopped purchasing from a supplier for labor violations!
This hands-off approach to labor unrest is outrageous. Driscoll’s can use its buying leverage to demand that its suppliers establish adequate labor and health protections for their workers.
Tell newly-promoted Driscolls' CEO Kevin Murphy to protect and defend the rights and livelihood of farmworkers!
Strawberry farms are already some of the most dangerous places to work due to heavy use of toxic pesticides. These chemicals can harm people by drifting over nearby communities, including the labor camps where many farmworkers live.
Driscoll’s requires its suppliers to sign its “Promise for Workforce Welfare” agreement, which includes “no tolerance” for certain disreputable labor practices. Yet, it claims that the situations at Sakuma Farms and BerryMex are the responsibility of its suppliers. In fact, Driscoll’s has never stopped purchasing from a supplier for labor violations!
This hands-off approach to labor unrest is outrageous. Driscoll’s can use its buying leverage to demand that its suppliers establish adequate labor and health protections for their workers.
Tell newly-promoted Driscolls' CEO Kevin Murphy to protect and defend the rights and livelihood of farmworkers!