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"Penny-Per-Pound" Activists Distort Farming Reality

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By HEATHER NEDLEY

Published: November 28, 2007

The Florida Tomato Growers Exchange, an agricultural cooperative, is right to encourage its members not to participate in so-called "penny-per-pound" agreements being pushed by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. The exchange has cited concerns with these deals related to federal and state antitrust, labor and racketeering laws.

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers has long misled the public about the working and living conditions of Florida's tomato harvesters. It is clear the group is intent on eliminating the ability of producers to set wages for their own employees. A CIW spokesperson recently told the Miami Herald, "The more buyers that want to participate, the less the growers will have to say about it." That has implications for all of agriculture, not just Florida's tomato industry.

Florida tomato harvesters earn an average of $12.46 per hour - more than double the current federal minimum wage of $5.75 per hour and nearly double Florida's minimum wage of $6.67 per hour. Farm workers harvest tomatoes an average of 25 to 30 hours per week in addition to other tasks on the farm. More importantly, many of Florida's 33,000-plus tomato harvesters voluntarily return to work on the same farms year after year.

Members of the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange have established themselves as industry leaders through their efforts to help Florida's tomato harvesters. As socially accountable farm employers, Florida tomato growers participate in comprehensive programs that certify employment, health, and housing and safety practices. Members also provide free or inexpensive government-inspected housing to farm workers and their families. Many pay for home utilities including gas, electric, water and garbage - even when harvesters are not picking tomatoes.
Tomato harvesters and other farm workers are essential to Florida's agriculture industry, which has a statewide economic impact of more than $97 billion. Responsible efforts to secure and maintain a stable workforce, such as those of the tomato growers, are the proper channels to ensure comprehensive, long-term solutions to labor issues.

Heather Nedley is president of the Agriculture Institute of Florida.

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