<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for Schlosser: Food industry abuses workers as matter of course]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by mcronheim http://www.grist.org/article/slow-food-nation-farmworkers-at-the-table/ Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:02:02 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/slow-food-nation-farmworkers-at-the-table/1 Organic farm laborers

I'm a bit confused. In the beginning you discuss organics' failure to address working conditions and the rights of laborers. But it isn't clear to me weather or not the following discussion refers to organic farms exclusively, conventional farms exclusively, or a combination of the two?

It would appear that the discussion refers to either of the latter two - only conventional or a combination of organic and conventional.

I'm particularly interested in figures pertaining specifically to organic farms. Organic farmers of all sizes are similarly subjected to market forces on both sides. While it is difficult to aggregate organic farmers given the great variation in size and scope, I find it critical to address the conditions therein, as sweeping assumptions seem to mask reality.
It seems generally accepted that organic farmers necessarily treat their workers well, or at least "better". Particularly with the rise of industrial organic, are many of these organic operations proceeding under the radar via the clock of organic?

Thanks Tom

Matthew Cronheim


]]> Organic farm laborers

I'm a bit confused. In the beginning you discuss organics' failure to address working conditions and the rights of laborers. But it isn't clear to me weather or not the following discussion refers to organic farms exclusively, conventional farms exclusively, or a combination of the two?

It would appear that the discussion refers to either of the latter two - only conventional or a combination of organic and conventional.

I'm particularly interested in figures pertaining specifically to organic farms. Organic farmers of all sizes are similarly subjected to market forces on both sides. While it is difficult to aggregate organic farmers given the great variation in size and scope, I find it critical to address the conditions therein, as sweeping assumptions seem to mask reality.
It seems generally accepted that organic farmers necessarily treat their workers well, or at least "better". Particularly with the rise of industrial organic, are many of these organic operations proceeding under the radar via the clock of organic?

Thanks Tom

Matthew Cronheim


]]> Comment #2 by Tom Philpott http://www.grist.org/article/slow-food-nation-farmworkers-at-the-table/ Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:47:17 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/slow-food-nation-farmworkers-at-the-table/2 Organic farm labor

Thanks, Matthew. Great question. From a labor-organizing standpoint, I think the reason organic farms haven't gotten much attention from activists is that organic production remains so tiny compared to conventional. Of the 1.2 million farm workers in the U.S., only a small portion work on organic farms. And given the extreme conditions faced by a large number of workers in Florida's tomato fields, it makes sense for people like Schlosser to concentrate their attention there. If workers in conventional ag can attain improved conditions and a living wage, that will pave the way for similar improvements in organic ag.

But Schlosser's point is clear: labor issues have to become central to the sustainable food movement. If we forget labor, we risk supporting "sustainable" farms that eke out profits by sticking it to their workers.

All of that said, conditions in organic ag remain troubling. I can point you to this 2005 survey by U of California researchers of California organic growers and their attitudes toward labor: http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/newsltr/v17n1/sa-1.htm

Short summary: Like their conventional counterparts, organic growers face severe economic pressure and thus resist paying decent wages. It's a pretty depressing account of the state of organic ag in California:
Our findings question expectations that organic agriculture systems necessarily foster social, or even economic sustainability for most farmers and farmworkers involved. Indeed, many farmers themselves forgo the kinds of employment benefits available to workers in most other sectors.
I blogged about the report when it came out here: http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2005/10/18/18022/134
For another account of conditions on organic farms, see Julie Guthman's excellent Agrarian Dreams: The Paradox of Organic Farming in California. http://www.amazon.com/Agrarian-Dreams-California-Critical ...

And to see an exception that proves the rule that things are rough on organic farms, check out the example of Swanton Berry Farm in California. Swanton owner Jim Cochran not only sought out the UFW to sign a collective bargaining agreement with his workers -- make him his the first and as far as I know still the only unionized organic farm in Cali -- but he also instituted what maybe the first-ever employee stock-ownership plan involving farmworkers. See: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/ar ...

Victual Reality





]]> Organic farm labor

Thanks, Matthew. Great question. From a labor-organizing standpoint, I think the reason organic farms haven't gotten much attention from activists is that organic production remains so tiny compared to conventional. Of the 1.2 million farm workers in the U.S., only a small portion work on organic farms. And given the extreme conditions faced by a large number of workers in Florida's tomato fields, it makes sense for people like Schlosser to concentrate their attention there. If workers in conventional ag can attain improved conditions and a living wage, that will pave the way for similar improvements in organic ag.

But Schlosser's point is clear: labor issues have to become central to the sustainable food movement. If we forget labor, we risk supporting "sustainable" farms that eke out profits by sticking it to their workers.

All of that said, conditions in organic ag remain troubling. I can point you to this 2005 survey by U of California researchers of California organic growers and their attitudes toward labor: http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/newsltr/v17n1/sa-1.htm

Short summary: Like their conventional counterparts, organic growers face severe economic pressure and thus resist paying decent wages. It's a pretty depressing account of the state of organic ag in California:
Our findings question expectations that organic agriculture systems necessarily foster social, or even economic sustainability for most farmers and farmworkers involved. Indeed, many farmers themselves forgo the kinds of employment benefits available to workers in most other sectors.
I blogged about the report when it came out here: http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2005/10/18/18022/134
For another account of conditions on organic farms, see Julie Guthman's excellent Agrarian Dreams: The Paradox of Organic Farming in California. http://www.amazon.com/Agrarian-Dreams-California-Critical ...

And to see an exception that proves the rule that things are rough on organic farms, check out the example of Swanton Berry Farm in California. Swanton owner Jim Cochran not only sought out the UFW to sign a collective bargaining agreement with his workers -- make him his the first and as far as I know still the only unionized organic farm in Cali -- but he also instituted what maybe the first-ever employee stock-ownership plan involving farmworkers. See: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/ar ...

Victual Reality





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