Currently, tomato harvesters in Florida are paid a mere 50 cents for every 32 pound bucket of tomatoes they collect. One farm worker has to collect 2.25 tons of tomatoes in a day to make the same amount with a minimum wage job makes during a 10 hour shift. On top of the low wages, they face exposure to agricultural chemicals and pesticides, live in crowded substandard housing with inadequate sanitation. Some farms have been tied to modern day slavery.

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) is asking companies to add one more penny per pound of tomatoes to the farm worker’s wages. This would mean a huge increase in their annual pay.
On February 9th 2012, Trader Joe’s finally signed an agreement with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) for the Fair Food Program. They joined companies like McDonalds, Burger King, Subway, Whole Foods and Yum! brands (which includes Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and KFC). Now what we want is for Chipotle to sign on.

Chipotle claims to have “Food with Integrity”, but where is the integrity in this? In one recent advertisement, Chipotle denounces factory farming and the industrialized nature of agriculture these days. In the end, one sign reads “Cultivate a Better World”. It is time for Chipotle to live up to it's word. By signing the Fair Food Agreement, they will prove that they are truly for a better world. Chipotle, do what is right and sign, help improve the lives of all of these farm workers and the families they provide for.