Authentic Recovery Center Founder Jon Esformes Gives Voice to Struggle of Farm Workers in New Documentary
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) November 28, 2014 -- Authentic Recovery Center founder Jon Esformes has been an active supporter of the recovery community through his work with ARC. This Friday, his work to improve the conditions of farm workers will take the main stage, with the release of documentary Food Chains.
As Americans prepare for Thanksgiving dinner, they may have taken time to consider whether their turkey is cage-free and their veggies organic, but few have probably given much thought to the sometimes deplorable conditions of the farm workers who pick the food. Food Chains is the latest peek into the food industry, this time spotlighting the low-paid and often abused agricultural workers who make up the backbone of America’s food supply. Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation, Food, Inc.) and Eva Longoria served as executive producers and, along with Esformes and others profiled in the film, have been actively speaking out about abuses highlighted in the film.
Esformes also will appear on the PBS show Studio SoCal Friday at 7pm discussing the need to improve working conditions and wages for farmers. The show will re-air Sunday at 5pm and Monday and Wednesday at 5:30pm.
Esformes is CEO of Florida-based Pacific Tomato Growers, where he’s been a vocal advocate for improving farm workers’ wages and treatment, speaking with CBS News, the Wall Street Journal and other major media outlets through the years about agricultural industry abuses. He’s backed up his words through a strategic partnership between the Pacific Tomato Growers and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) in Florida.
The Coalition of Immokalee Workers, a group of tomato pickers from Florida, are revolutionizing farm labor through improved wages and working conditions through partnerships like the one with Pacific Tomato Growers. They help tell the story of Food Chains.
The documentary exposes the abuse of farm workers in the U.S. with the complicity of the multi-billion dollar supermarket and fast food industries. More people are interested in their food these days, yet there’s still not much light being shed on widespread abuse of farm workers. Farm workers are routinely robbed of wages, sometimes beaten, sexually harassed, or even enslaved, all within the U.S.
The partnership between the CIW and Pacific Tomato Growers established a uniform code of conduct for the treatment of farm workers in Florida with corporate buyers and eventually led to the creation of the Fair Food Standards Council in the state. The Fair Food Standards Council oversees implementations of wage increases of a penny more for each pound of tomatoes picked from the major supermarket and fast-food chains, an amount that doesn’t impact the price of food for consumers, yet raises income for tomato pickers to a living wage. The FFSC also ensures workers, particularly women and illegal immigrants, are treated fairly and given equal rights.
Esformes appears in the film, discussing his company’s role in the movement. He’s also actively supporting the documentary in public appearances to raise attention for the plight of farm workers. In addition to appearing on PBS, he appeared on a panel at the Resnick Program for Food Law and Policy at UCLA School of Law in October talking about the problem.
Esformes is on the board of Beit T'Shuvah, which will honor him at its 23rd Annual Gala in January for his work for the drug rehab and alcohol rehab community and on behalf of human rights for farm workers.
Food Chains premiered at the 2014 Berlin Film Festival and has screened at the Tribeca Film Festival and Guadalajara Film Festival.
The film will premiere at select theaters in LA and be available for purchase on iTunes on Nov. 21. Find out more at http://www.foodchainsfilm.com
About Authentic Recovery Center:
The Authentic Recovery Center is a residential treatment program located in Los Angeles, CA. Our rehab center offers both in-patient and outpatient drug treatment and alcohol treatment programs using a combination of clinical, behavioral, and pharmacological techniques and approaches. Authentic Recovery Center specializes in dual-diagnosis treatment, treating both addiction and contributing elements such as depression and anxiety, providing our clients the greatest chance of recovery.
For more info please visit us at http://www.arctreatment.com
Evan Stanfield, Authentic Recovery Center, http://www.arctreatment.com, +1 (310) 407-9772, [email protected]
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