From the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature
Americas
California
International
Santa Cruz Indymedia
U.S.
Labor & Workers
Racial Justice
Front Page
Wed Apr 22 2015
U.S. and Mexican Workers Call for Boycott of Driscoll’s Berries
Workers Employed by Driscoll's Suppliers Demand Higher Wages and Legally Required Benefits
Suppliers of Driscoll’s, which may be the U.S.’s most recognizable brand name on strawberry, raspberry, blueberry and blackberry cartons, are coming under fire for allegedly abusing workers, in the U.S. and Mexico. One Driscoll’s grower has spent weeks embroiled in a major farmworker protest, while a nearly two-year boycott against another grower recently intensified. Workers in both disputes have called for a boycott against the company.
Its conventional and organic berries can be found year-round everywhere from Sam’s Club to Whole Foods. Driscoll's is headquartered in Watsonville, California. The company has fields in California, Florida, Mexico, and Australia, but to keep its berries stocked far and wide, it uses a vast supplier network stretching from Canada to Argentina.
Last month in the fields of San Quintin, in the Mexican state of Baja California, thousands of farm laborers picking multiple crops destined for Driscoll's boxes stopped work for nearly two weeks, demanding higher wages and legally required benefits, among other protections. Protests turned acrimonious when demonstrators threw rocks at government vehicles and police responded with tear gas and rubber bullets.
In Washington state, Familias Unidas por la Justicia (FUJ), which says it represents over 400 berry pickers, has been locked in a labor struggle with Driscoll’s supplier Sakuma Brothers Farms since 2013. FUJ has long held a boycott against Sakuma berries and its largest customers, Driscoll’s and Häagen-Dazs. On March 24, it doubled down on the boycott when the fair trade advocacy organization Fair World Project sent a letter to Driscoll’s, signed by nearly 10,000 consumers, asking it to suspend buying from Sakuma Brothers until the dispute is resolved. The signatories pledged not to buy Driscoll’s berries until then.
Read More | See Also: Driscoll’s Berry Boycott and Labor Dispute Intensifies
Its conventional and organic berries can be found year-round everywhere from Sam’s Club to Whole Foods. Driscoll's is headquartered in Watsonville, California. The company has fields in California, Florida, Mexico, and Australia, but to keep its berries stocked far and wide, it uses a vast supplier network stretching from Canada to Argentina.
Last month in the fields of San Quintin, in the Mexican state of Baja California, thousands of farm laborers picking multiple crops destined for Driscoll's boxes stopped work for nearly two weeks, demanding higher wages and legally required benefits, among other protections. Protests turned acrimonious when demonstrators threw rocks at government vehicles and police responded with tear gas and rubber bullets.
In Washington state, Familias Unidas por la Justicia (FUJ), which says it represents over 400 berry pickers, has been locked in a labor struggle with Driscoll’s supplier Sakuma Brothers Farms since 2013. FUJ has long held a boycott against Sakuma berries and its largest customers, Driscoll’s and Häagen-Dazs. On March 24, it doubled down on the boycott when the fair trade advocacy organization Fair World Project sent a letter to Driscoll’s, signed by nearly 10,000 consumers, asking it to suspend buying from Sakuma Brothers until the dispute is resolved. The signatories pledged not to buy Driscoll’s berries until then.
Read More | See Also: Driscoll’s Berry Boycott and Labor Dispute Intensifies
2023-01-21
Annual SF Counter-Protest of Anti-Abortion March Comes Amid New Post-Roe Reality
Front Page
| Health, Housing & Public Services
| Womyn
| San Francisco
| South Bay
| East Bay
| North Bay / Marin
| U.S.
| Government & Elections2022-12-22
Bountiful Mink "Liberation Season" Hits Ohio and Michigan, Leading to Closure of Massive Farm
Front Page
| U.S.
| Animal Liberation2022-12-14
KPFA Facing Layoffs, Massive Budget Shortfall After US Marshals Seize $305,000 of Reserves
Front Page
| Police State & Prisons
| Media Activism & Independent Media
| East Bay
| U.S.2022-11-24
Largest Walkout in the History of US Higher Education Demands Fair Contract
Front Page
| Labor & Workers
| Education & Student Activism
| Central Valley
| East Bay
| California2022-11-13
Elected Leaders and Weapons Makers Urged to Deescalate Risk of Apocalypse
Front Page
| Anti-War
| Central Valley
| San Francisco
| East Bay
| Peninsula2022-11-06
UN Condemns US Economic Embargo on Cuba, Ongoing Since 1959
Front Page
| Anti-War
| San Francisco
| International
| Americas2022-10-10
Beloved Community Activist Tony Coleman Passes Away
Front Page
| Police State & Prisons
| Racial Justice
| Health, Housing & Public Services
| Education & Student Activism
| San Francisco
| East Bay2022-09-28
As Extreme Climate Events Increase, Demand for Change Intensifies
Front Page
| Environment & Forest Defense
| San Francisco
| East Bay
| U.S.2022-09-24
Hundreds Rally for Protection of Sacred Tribal Land from Mining Project
Front Page
| Environment & Forest Defense
| Racial Justice
| South Bay
| Government & Elections
| Santa Cruz Indymedia2022-09-04
Alt-Right Far Outnumbered by Counter-Protesters at Central Valley Anti-Gay Demo
Front Page
| Police State & Prisons
| Global Justice & Anti-Capitalism
| LGBTI / Queer
| Womyn
| Central Valley2022-08-17
Security Guards Sent by OUSD to End Occupation Assault Community Members
Front Page
| Police State & Prisons
| Racial Justice
| Education & Student Activism
| East Bay
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!
Get Involved
If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.
Publish
Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.
Topics
More
Search Indybay's Archives
Advanced Search
►
▼
IMC Network