United Fresh Produce Association
1901 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 1100
Washington, D.C. 20006

October 30, 2009

To All United Fresh Produce Association Members:

Dear Friends,

The examples of illegal child labor in farm harvesting reported today by ABC News should be alarming to us all.  While I am confident that these reports show an unfortunate exception compared with the real picture on fruit and vegetable farms across the country, we need to be clear that illegal child labor in our fields is totally unacceptable and must be prevented 100% of the time.

My first instinct upon seeing the ABC report was to say that these instances do not represent the commitment demonstrated every day by thousands of growers across the United States.  It’s important that we are transparent in our operations, and make sure that ABC and, most importantly, our consumers recognize that these conditions are not widespread in our industry.

Yet simply saying so without taking further steps would be inadequate.  I am asking each of you today to redouble your efforts to ensure that no young children are ever working illegally on our farms.  I know you all have policies against illegal child labor, but it is our responsibility to make sure policies don’t just sit in a binder somewhere but are being enforced every day.  It is our responsibility to meet with farm managers and field supervisors to reinforce the critical importance of these policies.  It is our responsibility to teach these rules to all workers who might not understand the importance of keeping children in school and out of harvest fields.  It is our responsibility to ensure total compliance with the law.

I know that the vast majority of you are already following these steps.  But this is a powerful reminder to ensure that your own operation can live up to the scrutiny and expectations that consumers have of our industry, and the law requires.

I thank you for your commitment to providing American consumers with healthy, great-tasting fruits and vegetables grown and harvested in the most responsible manner.

Best regards,

Tom Stenzel
President/CEO
United Fresh Produce Association