WTVM.com and WTVM News Leader 9, Columbus, GA | Florida Farmers Protest Local Publix
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By Laura Ann Sills - email
COLUMBUS, GA (WTVM) - Florida is known for it's oranges, but did you know 95% of your winter tomatoes come from Florida?
Tomato farmers say they've had the same wage for 30 years. Receiving $0.45 per 30 lb bucket of the vegetable.
People gathered at the Publix on Macon Road Saturday to protest the retailer.
Leonel Perez works is a farm worker and is just asking Publix to pay one more cent per pound. He says, "In Florida agriculture there have been 7 different cases of modern day slavery over the past 12 years that have been convicted in federal courts."
Farmers are also asking Publix to join McDonalds, Taco Bell, Whole Foods and others in having a code of conduct for their produce suppliers. They want to see the agriculture industry be modernized and humanized.
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