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Employers Have Exploited and Abused H-2A Farmworkers for Years. It Doesn’t Have to Be That Way.

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Reposted by Coalition of Immokalee Workers

ProPublica @propublica.org · 18d

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.

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…

www.propublica.org

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Reposted by Coalition of Immokalee Workers

ProPublica @propublica.org · 18d

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

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…

projects.propublica.org

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Coalition of Immokalee Workers @immokaleeworkers.bsky.social · 14d

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

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...

www.propublica.org

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Coalition of Immokalee Workers @immokaleeworkers.bsky.social · 14d

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

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 ...

projects.propublica.org

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Coalition of Immokalee Workers @immokaleeworkers.bsky.social · 14d

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

“… 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.”

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...

Heat-stress protection protocols for farm workers save lives in the fields - FreshFruitPortal.com

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Reposted by Coalition of Immokalee Workers

Fair Food Program @fairfoodprogram.bsky.social · Sep 5

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...

In the absence of a federally mandated heat-stress protocol, initiatives like The Fair Food Program provide protection and business-savvy options.

www.freshfruitportal.com

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Reposted by Coalition of Immokalee Workers

Coalition of Immokalee Workers @immokaleeworkers.bsky.social · Aug 27

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...

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

Widow seeks answers after farmworker's possible heat-related death in Immokalee

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Coalition of Immokalee Workers @immokaleeworkers.bsky.social · Aug 27

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.

The recent death of Marco Antonio Hernandez Guevara, a 35-year-old farmworker from Immokalee, has left his family devastated and searching for answers.

www.winknews.com

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Coalition of Immokalee Workers @immokaleeworkers.bsky.social · Aug 27

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...

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

Marco Guevara, farmworker and beloved husband, father of three, has passed away after hospitalization with heatstroke

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Coalition of Immokalee Workers @immokaleeworkers.bsky.social · Aug 27

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...

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...

Donate to Help Support the Family of Marco Antonio Hernández Guevara, organized by Miguel Estrada

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Coalition of Immokalee Workers @immokaleeworkers.bsky.social · Aug 20

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.

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 to Help Support the Family of Marco Antonio Hernández Guevara, organized by Miguel Estrada

Coalition of Immokalee Workers @immokaleeworkers.bsky.social · Aug 20

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...

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 to Help Support the Family of Marco Antonio Hernández Guevara, organized by Miguel Estrada

Coalition of Immokalee Workers @immokaleeworkers.bsky.social · Aug 20

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.

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 to Help Support the Family of Marco Antonio Hernández Guevara, organized by Miguel Estrada

Coalition of Immokalee Workers @immokaleeworkers.bsky.social · Aug 20

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...

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 to Help Support the Family of Marco Antonio Hernández Guevara, organized by Miguel Estrada

Coalition of Immokalee Workers @immokaleeworkers.bsky.social · Aug 20

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...

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

2024 FFP “State of the Program” Report — Part 3: Understanding the FFP’s unique market-based enforcement model

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Reposted by Coalition of Immokalee Workers

Fair Food Program @fairfoodprogram.bsky.social · Aug 14

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...

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.

2024 FFP “State of the Program” Report — Part 2: Measuring the Fair Food difference in the fields

Reposted by Coalition of Immokalee Workers

Fair Food Program @fairfoodprogram.bsky.social · Aug 6

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...

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.

RELEASED: 2024 FFP “State of the Program” Report — Part 1: How a human rights program, born in Immokalee, went global

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Coalition of Immokalee Workers @immokaleeworkers.bsky.social · Jul 24

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...

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...

Civil Eats’ feature article on Fair Food Program’s heat protections wins coveted James Beard Award!

Reposted by Coalition of Immokalee Workers

Fair Food Program @fairfoodprogram.bsky.social · Jul 10

ciw-online.org/blog/2025/07...

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

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.

WSR in India: High court sides with sugar industry workers calling for sweeping changes, real human rights protections

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Coalition of Immokalee Workers @immokaleeworkers.bsky.social · Jul 3

ciw-online.org/blog/2025/07...

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.”

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: ...

Our reporting on the Fair Food Program, which creates protections for Florida workers and immigrants, came in first in the Health and Wellness category.

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Coalition of Immokalee Workers @immokaleeworkers.bsky.social · Jun 18

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!

Civil Eats @civileats.com · Jun 17

Civil Eats Wins a James Beard Award for Coverage of Farmworker Heat Protections

buff.ly

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Coalition of Immokalee Workers @immokaleeworkers.bsky.social · Jun 11

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.

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...

Why You Should Become a Fair Food Sustainer

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Coalition of Immokalee Workers @immokaleeworkers.bsky.social · Jun 4

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/

YouTube video by CIWvideo

youtube.com

CIW spoke at Yale Architecture last month and we have the highlights (video)

Reposted by Coalition of Immokalee Workers

Fair Food Program @fairfoodprogram.bsky.social · May 30

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

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...