Publix Target of Farmworkers: Group wants Publix and other retailers to pay higher rates for tomatoes from Florida.

LAKELAND, Oct 31, 2009 (The Ledger - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- PUSH | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- A Florida-based farmworkers group says it will come to Lakeland in December to demonstrate against Publix Super Markets Inc. as part of an effort to improve conditions on tomato farms.

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) has spent the past month protesting at Publix locations in South and Central Florida, including a store in Temple Terrace last weekend. The organization wants Lakeland-based Publix and other food retailers to pay higher rates for tomatoes from Florida and break ties with suppliers who abuse workers.

"It's a retail industry effort to change the conditions in the field by major tomato purchasers such as Publix taking responsibility," said Jordan Buckley of Interfaith Action, a network of religious groups working with the CIW.

The CIW previously reached agreements with McDonald's, Burger King, Subway and Yum Brands and now wants to do the same with Publix, Buckley said. Specifically, the group wants Publix to pay an additional penny per pound to its tomato suppliers and ensure the money goes to workers in the field. Romeo Ramirez, a seasonal farmworker and CIW member, said tomato pickers earn roughly 40 to 45 cents per 32-pound bucket and says workers' pay rates have been stagnant for decades.

"It's an industry that's living in the past," Ramirez said through an interpreter.

Publix spokeswoman Shannon Patten says the chain does not want to become involved in what it calls a labor dispute between the CIW and tomato suppliers.

"Publix pays fair market value for our tomatoes and we don't determine that price," Patten said. "It's just not our place to determine what the rate should be, which is why this is a labor dispute that should be settled between the workers and the growers."

But the CIW argues that Publix has more influence than it claims. The group says Publix has continued to buy tomatoes from Pacific Tomato Growers and Six Ls, two farms where worker abuses led to the conviction of four individuals on slavery charges in December.

Patten said Publix has periodically bought tomatoes from the two farms and a number of others across the state.

Buckley says Publix should follow the lead of the Whole Foods supermarket chain, which in June announced its support of the CIW's campaign and pay increase.

And despite opposition from Florida's tomato industry, the CIW includes at least three growers among its supporters, including Mulberry-based East Coast Growers and Packers.

Buckley said although the CIW is planning a Lakeland demonstration in December, but offered few specifics.

"We're hoping it won't come to that point. We hope Publix will get on board beforehand."

[ Kyle Kennedy can be reached at kyle.kennedy@theledger.com or 863-802-7584. ]

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