Lessons from consumer boycotts led by farmworkers : a strategy to address harsh working conditions and low wage rates

Abstract

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) is leading consumer boycott efforts against food corporations that buy specialty crops from growers allegedly hiring farmworkers under harsh working conditions and low wage rates. The CIW ends its boycott efforts when food corporations agree to establish a supplier code of conduct and pay a monetary supplement to farmworkers. Crop buyers pay an extra cent per pound to go directly to farmworkers as wage supplement. Food products from participating companies are branded as Fair Food. The program is an example of private efforts to improve welfare of farmworkers in specialty crops. Economic research on this program is limited, but enlightening. This article summarizes farmworker issues leading to the consumer boycott strategy used to make gains amongst farmworkers and research on the strategy.