Blog Post for JWM by Briana Frenchmore
Farmworker and Food Justice
November 8, 2015

Familias Unidas por la Justicia: The Spiritual Connection of the Strawberry

 

 

 

We know autumn has arrived when the ubiquitous pumpkin greets us everywhere we go. It is a sign of the changing of the seasons, inviting us to get cozy indoors and probably start making a lot of soup!  In the same way, the arrival of strawberries signals the joys of summer picnics and time spent basking in the sunshine. How many of us enjoyed some simply sweet strawberries that brought a smile to our face just a couple of months ago?

Today, I’d like to bring our attention to the intersection between the food we love to eat, farmworkers and our connection as people of faith.

In 2013, a group of berry pickers at Sakuma Bros. Farms in Burlington, WA in the Skagit Valley, went on strike demanding better pay and working conditions. Familias Unidas por la Justicia (FUJ-Families United for Justice), an independent farm worker union (recognized by the WA State Labor Council AFL-CIO) was formed as a response to unattainable production standards and unjust pay, wage theft, and hostile working and living conditions. To-date FUJ has about 400 members, the majority of whom are from indigenous towns in southern Mexican states such as Oaxaca.

Since 2014, Familias Unidas por la Justicia has called for a boycott of Driscoll’s, one of the largest suppliers of berries, and Haagen-Dazs strawberry ice cream who are purchasers of Sakuma Bros. Farms’ berries. In 2015, boycott teams from Burlington to Portland engaged Costco and Whole Foods in efforts to stop selling products from Sakuma Bros. Farms (these 2 companies were chosen due to their tendency to pay more attention to issues of worker and environmental justice when sourcing their products). FUJ continues to ask for community support in the boycott and putting pressure on Sakuma Bros. to recognize their union.

When we look at the issue of standing with Familias Unidas por la Justicia, we are quickly reminded of our connection to the land and our dependence on those who labor to produce the food that sustains us. We know that food not only nourishes us, but is an important part of our culture—who doesn’t look forward to community gatherings where a meal is shared? And as Christians, the ritual of remembering Jesus’ last meal with his disciples, connects us to the land and to each other when we break bread and drink from the cup of blessing around the communion table.

For those in the area, I invite you to join us on Saturday, November 14^th from 10am-12pm at Keystone UCC in Seattle for a Familias Unidas por la Justicia teach-in hosted by Farmworker Ministry Northwest. Join us to be a part of the conversation on how we as people of faith can stand and walk in solidarity with Familias Unidas por la Justicia and other farmworkers.

¡Si se puede!

 

1.      Visit Familias Unidas por la Justicia’s website. Watch these short videos: Fruits of Justice and Campesino.

2.      Get connected with Farmworker Ministry Northwest to plan an educational forum at your congregation: contact  Briana Frenchmore at b.frenchmore@gmail.com

3.      Find resources from National Farmworker Ministry such as an Overview of FUJ and Driscoll’s Boycott

4.      UCC Resources on Farmworker Justice

Opportunities for action and advocacy:

1.      Commit to boycott Driscoll berries and Haggen Daaz ice cream. Find sample letters to send to store managers where you shop, asking them to honor the boycott.  (sample letter accessible here).

2.      Join the Farmworker Ministry Northwest organizing and education team to plan actions to support FUJ in 2016:  contact  Briana Frenchmore at b.frenchmore@gmail.com

3.      Join the United Farm Workers (UFW) list serve for regional and national advocacy updates.