Students Working for Immokalee Farmworkers

Migrant and seasonal farmworkers account for the majority of people who pick the tomatoes, fruits, and vegetables that are eaten all around the country. The average American consumer could change the way farmworkers are paid by boycotting certain food chains that refuse to pay more per pound of tomato, but often choose not to. An emotional connection between consumers and workers on the other hand, is a strong incentive for buyers to make ethical decisions when it comes to the food they buy. The goal of this project is to bridge the emotional disconnect that plagues students at American University. In order to do that, the stories of individual workers must be made public and readily available to those who would not normally seek out this information. This would be done through presentations given to clubs such as America University Students for Fair Trade, Eco-Sense, The Community Service Coalition, and Greek Life. These students must then be given the appropriate means of changing their eating habits by providing them with cards that include the names of responsible food providers. In addition, for those who want to, an alternative break trip will be orchestrated to drive home the importance of responsible eating for the sake of the migrant and seasonal farmworkers in Immokalee Florida.