Sent a Letter to Driscoll's
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March 24, 2015 Mr. Miles Reitner, CEO Driscoll’s 345 Westridge Drive Watsonville, CA 95076-4169 Dear Mr. Reitner: I am enclosing a letter signed by nearly 10,000 consumers asKing Driscoll’s to suspend buying berries from SaKuma Brother’s Berry Farm in Burlington, Washington until farm owners and farmworKers negotiate a fair contact. As you are undoubtedly aware, farmworKers have been asKing for a fair contract covering wages and conditions for several years now. Because of SaKuma Brothers’ owners unwillingness to negotiate a fair contact, worKers have called for a boycott of these berries. Driscoll’s is one of SaKuma Brothers’ largest buyers and you have the ability to insist on a fair contract for farmworKers before you continue to purchase berries from this farm. Given your commitment to community and sustainability, this should be standard practice. The consumers who have signed the attached letter are not only expressing concern and solidarity for farmworKers, they are pledging to boycott all berries sold under the Driscoll’s brand until this is resolved. If you act now, a fair contract can be in place before the coming harvest season. This will ensure no further interruption of business to Driscoll’s or SaKuma Brothers and more importantly ensure decent jobs for hundreds of farmworKers whose tireless worK contributes to the ability of consumers to enjoy fresh berries year round. On behalf of Fair World Project and thousands of concerned consumers, I looK forward to your response by April 15, 2015. Thank you, Kerstin Lindgren Campaign Director Fair World Project Fair World Project is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote organic and fair trade practices and transparent third-party certification of producers, manufacturers and products, domestically and abroad. Through consumer education and advocacy, FWP supports dedicated fair trade producers and brands, and insists on integrity in use of the term “fair trade” in certification, labeling and marketing. FWP publishes a bi-annual publication entitled For a Better World. For more information, visit: http://www.fairworldproject.org. March 24, 2015 Driscoll’s 345 Westridge Drive Watsonville, CA 95076-4169 Dear Driscoll's: We are deeply troubled by your partnership with Sakuma Brother's Farm in Washington State. For several years Familias Unidas por la Justicia has been attempting to negotiate a fair and legally binding contract with Sakuma Brother's that protects their basic rights and provides fair wages. Their situation is so dire they have been forced to call for a boycott and at the same time you have increased purchases from them. The new growing season is coming up and we are writing to ask that you terminate your purchases from Sakuma Brothers until they in good faith negotiate a legally binding contract and Familias Unidas por la Justicia calls an end to the boycott. Although we appreciate the opportunity to purchase fresh berries year-round from a trusted brand, we will not continue to support Driscoll's if you continue to support farmworker abuse. Please see attached for the names and comments of nearly 10,000 concerned consumers. Consumers Asking Driscoll's to Insist on a Fair Contract for Farmworkers at Sakuma Brothers Farms stuart Smith OR Treat your workers with respect. Elin Hayes OR KEN SCHEFTER KS bryn sullivan WA Bethany Boggess TX IVONNE RAMIREZ MD Jana McCormick TX Erika Antillon CA adel kessler IA There has to be a better way!!!!!!This is soooo not acceptible!!! Jane Wilson OR K Scott MD Stephen Stuart NY Patricia Lasek NY Joe Russo NY Lauren Holder OK Robin Gorges VT Pat Berger ME Arthur Schurr NY Linda Prince NM Jeanne Lihotz NJ Jamie Fillmore OR Leah Danger NY Sally Hill OK John McCraw AZ Jesse Ritrovato PA Rick Easton AZ Brian Meadows PA Gale Espinosa AZ Jennifer Hall TN Christine Harris MI jerry Curow NV Kathleen Morris OH Robin Lorentzen ID Rehana Huq NY Aaron Robison UT Jaesa McGee LA Raymond Nuesch DC Myrna Castaline CO Deborah DeSimone NC Barbara Clark DE James Eaton CT Phyllis Swank NC Doug Landau FL Luis Lozano CA All work needs to be respected with a living and fair wage. Chris Drumright TN Vivian Davis NJ Dennis Schaef PA John Marotta NJ Laura Maratin MI www.fairworldproject.org 1 Consumers Asking Driscoll's to Insist on a Fair Contract for Farmworkers at Sakuma Brothers Farms Amanda Biggs ot Ellen Asprooth NY Charles Phillips MO Nadine Aydt IA Why is it so hard to share the income and be fair to people who work hard and make your income possible. Addie Roney NJ David Gerke NM stephen a martin RI James Rainbolt IA Jerry Mawhorter MI Cathy King IL Jacqueline D Davis WA Michael Madson IA Colleen Curtis WA Dale Patrick IA A. Mervyn & CARSE MI Marilyn Gustavo Gomes ot Jodie St Jean AB What Sakumas are doing is illegal. If Driscoll keeps buying from a known criminal element then Driscoll's should be held responsible as well. BOYCOTT DRISCOLL'S UNTIL THEY SUPPORT FAIR WAGES AND TREATMENT OF SLAVES!! Wim Van ot Caelenbergh John Meeks IL Ian Turner CA Matthew Burton OH Donna L. Meyers PA Fred Snowden OH Dorothy Gunn VA Joyce DuBois MN Bob Steinberg NM Mark Bedard MI T C IL cheryl mulholland CO Daniela Rossi ID richard kite NY Brendan Heberlein WI Julie Squire MO Ronald Groves NM Kim Dion CO Lawrence BaX TX Debra Wilde CO kathryn robertson WV Ben Badger WV Marvin Lewis PA E Matos FL Chris Hargrove TN www.fairworldproject.org 2 Consumers Asking Driscoll's to Insist on a Fair Contract for Farmworkers at Sakuma Brothers Farms David Fallow WI Are the berries organic? I only buy Driscoll products when they are certified organic. BL Shinbara NC Kathleen Bentley MD Leah Berman CA Jeanne Parent MN Susan Ruzic BC gregory billeci NY Carol Devoss IL Kevin Vaught TN Ginger Comstock NY Laurie McLaughlin QC Let's help Driscoll's do the right thing. Their berries even show up here in Montreal. Emma Van Pelt MA We don't have food without able and skilled labor. Pay them the fair wage they deserve. Period. Susan Closson OH Rosemary Garcia SD jane tremblay MA Bob Brucker FL L Hutchins WI As a consumer of your wonderful berries, I will follow this closely and will boycott your product to support worker's rights. Sharon Baker CO Cindy MacDonald ON People before profits. You wouldn't have the profits without the people! They deserve fair treatment and your utmost respect. Do the right thing. Jason Freeman SK I won't be purchasing Driscoll products until Familias Unidas por la Justica states that Sakuma Brothers is negotiating in good faith with the workers. pamela joseph CT Suzan Hill OR Kevin Silvey FL Chris Reilly CT I buy Driscoll's berries, but happy to change if something is not done. Lawrence Davis OH pay up and move on Diana T MN Tirso Moreno FL Margaret Goscilo OH Teresa MASIA ot PERALES ML Schihl WI BOYCOTT SAKUMA BROTHERS!!! Diane Birmingham CO Timothy Mullen ot Richard Boyce OH Marcia Kindlmann CT I have often bought Driscoll berries but now I will think twice. Please work for fair conditions for the farm workers! Julia DeLacy WI Litsa Katsarou NY Jeannine Schulz AB www.fairworldproject.org 3 Consumers Asking Driscoll's to Insist on a Fair Contract for Farmworkers at Sakuma Brothers Farms Martha C. Pirrone MD V. B. IN Werner Bergman WA Erin Ham TX Love your neighbor as you love yourself. What greater commandment could there be? Imagine how wonderful this world would be if we all did that. You have the chance to do that now. Please show kindness and love to the beautiful people who work for you by giving them a fair and liveable wage. michael keith PA Richard Martin OR Lisa Horn IL Mark Bartleman CA Pela Tomasello CA Areti Spiropoulos QC I have immediately stopped my raspberries and will pass the word till this is reconciled to the workers satisfaction...! Shame shame! Judy Abreu FL Ceferino Cenizo NY Keith Cutler ND Joel Meza CA Clifford Provost NY Dave Searles WI Lisa Junco IL Meghan Blydenburgh VA Daniel Jaffee OR Richard Morgese CA Bernard Clegg TX Ketty Miller OR Joelle Craft WA Meghan McDonald WI Take a stand for the hard---working laborers who pick produce! Linda Rust MO Laura Carroll MN Elizabeth Enright AZ john deptula NJ Ellen Barron CA My favorite raspberry company is not fair? Boycott. Peter Hoyt OR C. Ring AB Chris Hoke WV I am boycotting Driscoll's products and will encourage others to do so. Giving a fair wage and decent working conditions can and WILL increase production and profit. Sergio Rivera IL Line Ringgaard ot James Angerer CO Linda Plenert WA Gail Molinaro IL I will stop buying Driscoll until I hear this has been resolved. Jim Lockhart OR Luke Brandon BC Oscar Revilla NC Mike Reed IL www.fairworldproject.org 4 Consumers Asking Driscoll's to Insist on a Fair Contract for Farmworkers at Sakuma Brothers Farms Leslie Spurling TX As a teen, I picked strawberries briefly. Hardest job I've ever had, these folks need to be fairly treated and compensated. cecilia rodriguez FL Donald Cronin MA Brigida Williams CA Bad karma. Heather Sellers FL Dennis Feichtinger MI Brian Clifton NY Andy Cooper MI kathleen aman KY As a teenager I worked on a berry farm on Vashon island so I know how hard the work is. Lee Johnson NM Claudia Joseph NY Pickers deserve a fair wage and decent conditions. Please help them by supporting their demands.