East Coast Growers and Packers, one of Florida’s largest tomato growers, confirmed that it has agreed to work with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) and implement one penny-per-pound wage increases for workers. East Coast workers raise and ship fresh tomatoes through name brands including King’s Choice, Red Rose, Ruskin Cream, and Skipjack.
“East Coast Growers and Packers is proud to lead Florida’s tomato industry with this first-of-its-kind agreement that helps our customers deliver on their promise and puts the money into the people’s hands,” said Vice President and Sales Manager Batista Madonia, Jr.
According to Madonia, Jr., this agreement was a commitment to social responsibility — a commitment to East Coast employees and East Coast customers, who represent the Nation’s top restaurants, many of whom had already reached an agreement with CIW, such as McDonald’s.
“Take for example a customer like McDonald’s USA, with their size and scope, making this kind of commitment. This was the right decision for us. We’ve now provided a mechanism for the money to get into the hands of the workers who harvest the company’s tomatoes, and greatly improve the quality of their lives,” Madonia, Jr. said.
For more than 50 years, East Coast’s corporate philosophy has focused on integrity and dedication to bringing customers premium products grown in an environment that is safe and secure. This agreement is a demonstration of East Coast’s unwavering commitment to its workers and customers.
“East Coast Growers and Packers will always strive to find a solution, even when the answer falls outside of the industry norm,” Madonia, Jr. said.