Industry Facts
Myths vs. Facts
Myth: Tomato harvesters are making the same wage they made nearly 30 years ago.
Facts:
In 1978, the federal minimum wage was $2.65; today the minimum wage in Florida is $6.79, an increase of more than 150%. In addition, the piece rate harvesters earn has increased several times in the past three decades. Workers earn anywhere from 45 to 60 cents per bucket, compared to about 30 per bucket 20 years ago.
Florida’s tomato producers pay their workers a fair, competitive wage for what is an entry-level, low-skilled job. They must pay a fair wage if they are to have a workforce to harvest their crops. In fact, thousands of workers voluntarily return to work on the same farms year after year.
Myth: Farmworkers are denied their fundamental labor rights by being held and forced to work in slave-like conditions.
Facts:
Florida's tomato growers abhor and condemn slavery. Charges that growers have enslaved workers are false. On numerous occasions, the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange has asked for evidence that would substantiate allegations of slavery and have received none. The Exchange stands ready to help authorities prosecute any instance of slavery.
The Exchange has invited the Collier County Sheriff’s Office Anti-Trafficking Unit to speak at its annual meeting. Growers also have requested materials from the unit to distribute to their workers in order to raise awareness about how to report problems.
Myth: Florida tomato pickers in Immokalee face sweatshop conditions every day.
Facts:
Many Florida tomato producers have been certified by the Socially Accountable Farm Employers program. SAFE certification, which is secured only after a comprehensive audit of farm operations by an independent third-party, indicates a grower fosters a work environment that is free of hazard, intimidation, violence and harassment.
Many tomato growers provide free or inexpensive housing that must pass government inspection. Many employers also pay for utilities including gas, electric, water and garbage, even when workers are not picking tomatoes. The Florida Tomato Growers Exchange is committed to providing positive housing solutions for workers and their families.