FTGE To Offer Social Responsiblity Program

A move to get farmworkers more money is being touted by Floridas tomato growers as a step in the right direction.

But activists say the gesture doesnt go far enough.

The Florida Tomato Growers Exchange (FTGE), an agricultural cooperative of the states tomato farmers, announced Tuesday that as a result of customer negotiations, co-op members would offer a new social responsibility program that would include supplemental wages for workers and a code to guide employment practices.

Exchange Vice President Reginald Brown said the program is open to all retail and food-service customers of participating exchange growers, who represent about 75 percent of all fresh-market tomatoes grown in Florida.

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