Pilgrimage to Publix: Cycling to Crenshaw

For more than two years, Publix ignored all of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers' requests to meet to discuss the grocery giant's potential participation in the Campaign for Fair Food.

So on the day after Labor Day, after more than 200 miles of pedaling and pedaling, a few farmworkers from Immokalee and their faith-based supporters dismounted their bicycles and arrived at last at their destination: the headquarters of Publix, Florida’s largest corporation. The CIW extended a personal invitation to Ed Crenshaw for the supermarket CEO to visit Immokalee so that he could learn firsthand about the Campaign for Fair Food.

But even after all that distance, the Publix CEO did not accept the farmworkers' invitation. He didn't even show his face. Like time and time before, he dispatched someone from the PR department to anonymously turn them away.

Publix's shocking display of indifference to the plight of farmworkers in its home state -- and to the concerns of Publix customers who support the Campaign for Fair Food -- left the workers and their allies who gathered in Lakeland for Tuesday's final leg of the bike tour deeply frustrated. Their frustration is shared by many communities of faith around Florida and across the country who have written to express their renewed commitment to the Campaign in the face of response.

Can you call Mr. Crenshaw's office and let him know that you are praying he will take this opportunity to rise above the PR and do the right thing?

Mr. Crenshaw's Office: (863) 688-1188, ext. 52347

If they try to pass you off to PR, you can let them know we don't want to hear more circular and misleading arguments (click here for a point-by-point response to such arguments) from the PR but simply want to express your hope that Mr. Crenshaw will go to Immokalee to the learn the reality about the Fair Food program himself.

Here is a sampling of the Pilgrimage's religious press coverage:

Manasota hosts farmworkers on pilgrimage to grocery giant from Pax Christi USA

Fla. UCC churches support 'pilgrims' on 200-mile justice trek from United Church of Christ News

Pilgrimage to Publix from General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church

A journey for justice from The Presbyterian Church (USA)

Immokalee Farmworkers to Bike to Publix's CEO Sept. 6 an op-ed by Rabbi Bruce Diamond from the Ft. Myers News-Press

And here is some of the Florida news coverage:

Immokalee Farmworkers to Bike to Publix's CEO Sept. 6 from the Lakeland Ledger

Immokalee Coalition to Pedal to Lakeland from the Ft. Myers News-Press

Pedaling for Pennies: Farmworkers want Publix to pay more for tomatoes from the Naples Daily News

A wonderful compilation of photos from the Naples Daily News