Florida Staff
National Farm Worker Ministry - Florida
P.O. Box 1589
Deland, FL 32721
Telephone/Fax: 386-738-2269
Roberta (Bert) Perry, Community Organizer
bperry@nfwm.org
Cell: 386-748-2589
Lariza Garzón, Community Organizer
lgarzon@nfwm.org
Cell: 386-801-1232
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Good News for Florida Farmworkers from the Fair Food campaign
Here’s the news from Interfaith Action of Southwest Florida …
NFWM had some fantastic news today: Alderman Farms and Lady Moon Farms, two of Florida's largest organic growers, have agreed to pass the penny-per-pound wage increase onto farmworkers!!
Whole Foods Market confirmed today that Alderman Farms and Lady Moon Farms have reached agreements with Whole Foods to support the CIW's penny-per-pound program and meet strict labor standards. This step forward by Alderman Farms and Lady Moon Farms effectively breaks the stalemate established nearly two seasons ago when the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange (FTGE) threatened to fine any of its members that sold tomatoes under the terms of the CIW agreements.
Call for Help for Florida Farm Workers Affected by Flooding
Farm workers on the east coast of central Florida have been hard hit because of the rains over the Memorial Day weekend and the loss of work resulting from the flooding. These families need immediate help with food and money to pay bills. CLICK HERE to see how you can help.
Read Thousands Jobless After Crop Loss from the Palatka Daily News.
United Methodist Church Florida Conference and NFWM Florida
We offer many thanks to the United Methodist Church in Florida, and particularly to Bishop Whitaker, Rev. Larry Rankin, and Melinda Trotti. The UMC has been very supportive in our work with the CIW and other farm worker concerns. Bishop Whitaker is an active supporter of farm worker rights. We are now developing a relationship with our Youth and Young Adult Network and UMC Campus Ministries.
NFWM staff, Bert Perry, participated in the Tallahassee Advocacy Days, sponsored by the UMC and Florida Impact. It was an educational, action, and lobbying day for children’s concerns in Florida. After extremely informative presentations and enabling spiritual reflection, we went out to talk to legislators about Kid Care, education and many other issues. A report of the activities can be found at: www.flumc.org
The UMC has also included NFWM in an article from the 2008 Annual Conference. Find it at their e-news site. And the new Response magazine also includes an article about farm workers and their allies in Florida, including NFWM.
Florida Church Women United Supports FLOC & CIW
Florida CWU attendees to this year’s Annual Assembly in March sent letters to the Lionel Nowell, Senior Vice President and Treasurer of PepsiCo. Mr. Nowell sits on the reynolds Tobacco Board of Directors. The letters asked that he, as a Board member, request that Ms. Susan Ivey meet with the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC) regarding improving conditions for tobacco harvesters. They included various Pepsi labels in the letters to emphasize they are consumers of his product.
The Assembly also was in session when we heard from the Coalition of Immokalee Workers that the meeting with Florida Gov. Charlie Crist was constructive and encouraging. The cheer that went up could probably be heard across the lake!
