Thursday, October 2nd, Fair Food Austin is proud to host the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) on their 2008 "Chipocrisy Tour"!...Campaign Presentation - Noon
CIW recaps latest victories and next steps in the Campaign for Fair Food.
University of Texas (Eastwoods Room, Texas Union)
Chipotle Protest - 1pm
Demand Chipotle live up to its "Food with Integrity" slogan.
Meet at Cesar Chavez statue on UT campus (West Mall)
2230 Guadalupe St.
Whole Foods & Burger King Victory Celebration - 7pm
Join CIW and Austin allies for music, celebration, and a report-back from the 2008 Student/Farmworker Alliance Encuentro.
1604 E. 11th St.
Update (10/6): Don't miss coverage of the CIW's visit to Austin here!
Background: On the heels of a major agreement with Austin-based Whole Foods Market, CIW amplifies its demand for Chipotle to live up to its "Food with Integrity" slogan.
In the grand tradition of CIW "mini-tours" since 2001, the CIW is announcing the 2008 "Chipocrisy Tour," set to begin at the end of this month in Austin, Texas, and make its way to Chipotle Mexican Grill's corporate headquarters in Denver, Colorado in early October. The 2008 tour will head north from Austin through towns like Lawrence, Kansas to Denver and home again to Immokalee for two weeks of of education and action around the true meaning of the term "sustainable agriculture."
Chipotle has staked its claim as the sustainable agriculture leader in the fast-food industry. Its marketing slogan -- "Food with Integrity" -- is unambigious.
Yet the company's definition of "sustainable" is apparently unconcerned with the egregious exploitation of farm labor in Florida's tomato fields. And you don't have to take our word for it. Here's the company's vision of sustainable agriculture as defined by none other than Chipotle's founder and CEO, Steve Ells:
"We decided long ago that we didn't want Chipotle's success to be tied to the exploitation of animals, farmers, or the environment.”
Should farmworkers be included in that definition? We think so, and in the language of this election season, that's a debate we're happy to have. So let the debate begin next week, with the 2008 Chipocrisy Tour, and may the best vision of sustainable agriculture win!
