Coalition of Immokalee Workers

An update on Marco Guevara and his family… We want to quickly take a moment to thank everyone who has so generously supported Marco Antonio Hernández Guevara’s family during this heartbreaking time. Last month, Mr. Guevara, a farmworker based ...

ciw-online.org/blog/2025/09...

Thanks to the generosity of nearly 500 donors, we have already raised over $26,000. These funds are now in the process of being transferred directly to Mr. Guevara’s widow to help with the many unexpected expenses the family is facing...

Employers Have Exploited and Abused H-2A Farmworkers for Years. It Doesn’t Have to Be That Way. The seasonal visa program has failed to protect migrant farmworkers from wage theft, forced labor, violence and death. Experts, lawyers and advocates say there are ways to reduce and even stop the…

H-2A visas are certain to remain in high demand, experts say. But without reform, instances of abuse and exploitation of migrant farmworkers are likely to increase too.

Here’s what experts, lawyers and advocates think would make the program safer.

A Farmworkers Visa Promised Her a Better Life. It Was a Trap. Sofi left behind her child in Mexico for the promise of providing him a better life. She ended up a victim of an operation that is alleged to have exploited the H-2A visa program — and the workers it…

In 2021, Javier Sanchez Mendoza Jr. pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in forced labor as part of a federal investigation that exposed widespread abuses of H-2A workers across Georgia.

This is the story of what one of those workers endured.

By @maxblau.bsky.social

Employers Have Exploited and Abused H-2A Farmworkers for Years. It Doesn’t Have to Be That Way. The seasonal visa program has failed to protect migrant farmworkers from wage theft, forced labor, violence and death. Experts, lawyers and advocates say there are ways to reduce and even stop the har...

And read the second piece, which singles out the @fairfoodprogram.bsky.social as the only proven solution here: www.propublica.org/article/h-2a...

A Farmworkers Visa Promised Her a Better Life. It Was a Trap. Sofi left behind her child in Mexico for the promise of providing him a better life. She ended up a victim of an operation that is alleged to have exploited the H-2A visa program — and the workers it ...

Read the first piece here: projects.propublica.org/h2a-visa-far...

Bombshell ProPublica investigation reveals horrifying new details on ‘Operation Blooming Onion’ — largest ever modern-slavery case, uncovered by CIW — highlights Fair Food Program as only proven solut... ProPublica: ... Agents had been following leads from an anti-trafficking organization, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, that in 2015 had uncovered the abuses of harvesters at an onion farm near Vid...

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“… Agents had been following leads from an anti-trafficking organization, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, that in 2015 had uncovered the abuses of harvesters at an onion farm near Vidalia. That collaboration enabled the agents to expand their investigation.”

Heat-stress protection protocols for farm workers save lives in the fields  - FreshFruitPortal.com In the absence of a federally mandated heat-stress protocol, initiatives like The Fair Food Program provide protection and business-savvy options.

The life-saving "heat-illness protection protocol US agriculture deserves" found within the Fair Food Program are featured by Fresh Fruit Portal today.

www.freshfruitportal.com/news/2025/09...

Donate to Help Support the Family of Marco Antonio Hernández Guevara, organized by Miguel Estrada Please note: Funds will be withdrawn by Zach Cole, a trusted … Miguel Estrada needs your support for Help Support the Family of Marco Antonio Hernández Guevara

In the wake of this unimaginable loss, his family must now navigate the painful return of his body to Mexico and the burden of medical and legal costs. To help Mr. Guevara’s family in their time of need, we are re-sharing this fundraiser:

www.gofundme.com/f/help-suppo...

www.winknews.com/news/collier...

"I just ask that this what happened to my husband is thoroughly investigated so that other families don't have to go through what I'm going through," Mr. Guevara's widow told WINK news.

Donate to Help Support the Family of Marco Antonio Hernández Guevara, organized by Miguel Estrada Please note: Funds will be withdrawn by Zach Cole, a trusted … Miguel Estrada needs your support for Help Support the Family of Marco Antonio Hernández Guevara

In the wake of this unimaginable loss, his family must now navigate the painful return of his body to Mexico and the burden of medical and legal costs. To help Mr. Guevara’s family in their time of need, we are re-sharing this fundraiser:

www.gofundme.com/f/help-suppo...

Marco Guevara, farmworker and beloved husband, father of three, has passed away after hospitalization with heatstroke La Jornada: “Marco Antonio Hernández Guevara should not have died. The farmworker, like so many others, came to the United States to work in the fields of Florida and support his wife and three daught...

Late last week, we shared the news that Immokalee-area farmworker Marco Antonio Hernández Guevara had been hospitalized after collapsing from heat stroke in Florida’s fields.

Today, with heavy hearts, we share the news that Mr. Guevara passed away over the weekend.

ciw-online.org/blog/2025/08...

Donate to Help Support the Family of Marco Antonio Hernández Guevara, organized by Miguel Estrada Please note: Funds will be withdrawn by Zach Cole, a trusted … Miguel Estrada needs your support for Help Support the Family of Marco Antonio Hernández Guevara

DONATE: www.gofundme.com/f/help-suppo...

Let us honor her strength by rallying as a Fair Food Nation to support her family now, and by continuing the fight to extend the Fair Food Program’s life-saving protections to all workers in the future.

Donate to Help Support the Family of Marco Antonio Hernández Guevara, organized by Miguel Estrada Please note: Funds will be withdrawn by Zach Cole, a trusted … Miguel Estrada needs your support for Help Support the Family of Marco Antonio Hernández Guevara

Remarkably, even in the midst of this tragedy, Mr. Guevara’s wife is thinking of others. “I would do anything to ensure that no one else ever has to go through what Marco and our family are going through today,” Ms. Jimenez told supporters in Immokalee.

DONATE: www.gofundme.com/f/help-suppo...

Donate to Help Support the Family of Marco Antonio Hernández Guevara, organized by Miguel Estrada Please note: Funds will be withdrawn by Zach Cole, a trusted … Miguel Estrada needs your support for Help Support the Family of Marco Antonio Hernández Guevara

DONATE: www.gofundme.com/f/help-suppo...

His wife, Reyna Jimenez, arrived this morning from Mexico on a humanitarian visa to be by her husband’s side in these unimaginably difficult days.

Donate to Help Support the Family of Marco Antonio Hernández Guevara, organized by Miguel Estrada Please note: Funds will be withdrawn by Zach Cole, a trusted … Miguel Estrada needs your support for Help Support the Family of Marco Antonio Hernández Guevara

Late last week, news reached the Immokalee community of a worker felled by the intense heat and humidity of Florida’s summer season and taken to a hospital in nearby Naples, where he lay in a coma on life support.

DONATE: www.gofundme.com/f/help-suppo...

Donate to Help Support the Family of Marco Antonio Hernández Guevara, organized by Miguel Estrada Please note: Funds will be withdrawn by Zach Cole, a trusted … Miguel Estrada needs your support for Help Support the Family of Marco Antonio Hernández Guevara

www.gofundme.com/f/help-suppo...

Marco Guevara, proud father of 3 and husband, succumbs to heat on Immokalee area farm, lies fighting for his life in Naples hospital. You can help: GoFundMe effort launched by Immokalee area pastor...

2024 FFP “State of the Program” Report — Part 3: Understanding the FFP’s unique market-based enforcement model Farmworker on an FFP participating farm: “More important than the money, which I need, was the feeling of dignity when my labor – the buckets I harvested – was recognized.

For part 3 of our series highlighting key sections of the FFP’s recently released 2024 “State of the Program” report, we want to hone in on one of the features of the FFP model that sets it apart as the “new gold standard” in human rights enforcement today.

ciw-online.org/blog/2025/08...

2024 FFP “State of the Program” Report — Part 2: Measuring the Fair Food difference in the fields Fair Food Program reaches major landmark: Over $50 million in Fair Food Premium — aka the Penny per Pound — has been paid by Participating Buyers to improve farmworkers' income on participating farms.

Fair Food Program reaches major landmark: Over $50 million in Fair Food Premium — aka the “Penny per Pound” — has been paid by Participating Buyers to improve farmworkers’ income on participating farms.

Read more here! ciw-online.org/blog/2025/07...

RELEASED: 2024 FFP “State of the Program” Report — Part 1: How a human rights program, born in Immokalee, went global State of the Program report: Now, fourteen years since its inception, the FFP has entered into a phase of truly dramatic expansion: During 2024 and 2025, the Program’s protections will reach thousands...

As the @fairfoodprogram.bsky.social continues to ramp up its national expansion — while simultaneously growing its international footprint, as well — the Fair Food Standards Council (FFSC) has released its latest report on the FFP.

Read it now! ciw-online.org/blog/2025/07...

Civil Eats’ feature article on Fair Food Program’s heat protections wins coveted James Beard Award! Grey Moran, in acceptance speech for James Beard Award: “I encourage everyone here who procures food to check out the Coalition of Immokalee Workers’ Fair Food Program.

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From everyone in the CIW and FFP, we want to congratulate @greymoran.bsky.social on their well-deserved recognition! @civileats.com

WSR in India: High court sides with sugar industry workers calling for sweeping changes, real human rights protections India Sugar Industry Workers Association: “This is a historic moment, a historic opportunity where the court has pushed to make substantial changes... The New York Times: ...

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The New York Times: “… [L]abor leaders are also pressuring multinational companies to join a labor-standards program modeled after the Fair Food Program, which has improved conditions for American agricultural workers.”

Huge congratulations to @greymoran.bsky.social on winning a James Beard Award for coverage of the @fairfoodprogram.bsky.social and its life-saving heat stress protections!

How the Fair Food Program guarantees unparalleled protections for farmworkers Fair Food Program Sustainer Drive, Week 2: We take a look under the hood of the FFP to see how all the moving parts — including the CIW’s consumer allies and Sustainers like you — work together to set...

ciw-online.org/blog/2025/06...

Today, we take a look under the hood of the FFP to see how all the moving parts — including the CIW’s consumer allies and Sustainers like you — work together to set the “new gold standard” for enforcing fundamental human rights in global supply chains.

YouTube video by CIWvideo Why You Should Become a Fair Food Sustainer

youtube.com/shorts/_5I17...

Our national network of consumer allies has helped author one of the most compelling human rights stories of our generation, and our work together has just begun.

DONATE TO BECOME A SUSTAINER of the @fairfoodprogram.bsky.social: fairfoodprogram.org/donate/

CIW spoke at Yale Architecture last month and we have the highlights (video) Yale University’s School of Architecture holds powerful conference on forced labor in the built environment and invited the Fair Food Program to share its insights from the Worker-driven Social Respon...

ciw-online.org/blog/2025/05...

In April, Yale University’s School of Architecture held powerful conference on forced labor in the "built environment" and invited the Fair Food Program to share its insights from the Worker-driven Social Responsibility (WSR) experience

To the thousands of farmworker allies who contacted Wendy’s last week, demanding the fast-food giant finally join the Fair Food Program, thank you! Your support has been foundational to empowering tens of thousands of farmworkers across the US and beyond.

VIRTUAL ACTION ALERT: 5 ways to demand Wendy’s join the Fair Food Program! Fair Food Nation, today is the day to demand Wendy's finally do the right thing to protect farmworkers and join the Presidential Medal-winning Fair Food Program!  In tomorrow's annual general meeting,...

ciw-online.org/blog/2025/05...

Fair Food Nation, today is the day to demand Wendy's finally do the right thing to protect farmworkers and join the Presidential Medal-winning @fairfoodprogram.bsky.social !

SAVE THE DATE: MAY 20! Demand Wendy’s join the Fair Food Program Calling all members of the Fair Food Nation: Mark your calendars to contact Wendy's next Tuesday, May 20th! Demand justice for farmworkers by calling, emailing, or delivering a printed letter to Wendy...

ciw-online.org/blog/2025/05...

Calling all members of the Fair Food Nation:

Mark your calendars to contact Wendy’s next Tuesday, May 20th!

Demand justice for farmworkers by calling, emailing, or delivering a printed letter to Wendy’s urging the fast-food giant join the Fair Food Program!

Very honored to be a James Beard Award finalist for a story about the really incredible farmworker organizing of @fairfoodprogram.bsky.social @immokaleeworkers.bsky.social 🎈

Longtime CIW ally, friend Kerry Kennedy awarded the prestigious Oscar Romero Human Rights Award Kerry Kennedy, President of RFK Human Rights: This recognition is a personal honor and a reminder that the pursuit of human rights demands boldness, compassion and an unshakable commitment to justice.

ciw-online.org/blog/2025/05...

It is our great pleasure to share the news that Kerry Kennedy — a longtime ally of the CIW, and of human rights defenders everywhere — has been awarded the Oscar Romero Human Rights Award by the University of Dayton’s Human Rights Center. @rfkhumanrights.bsky.social