FMI Commends U.S. Department of Labor for Enforcing Laws to Protect Agricultural Workers’ Rights

ARLINGTON, VA — April 15, 2011 — The Food Marketing Institute issued the following statement from President and Chief Executive Officer Leslie G. Sarasin on the U.S. Department of Labor’s announcement that it will be conducting enforcement activities to protect the welfare of the nation’s farmworkers:

“We commend the U.S. Department of Labor for demonstrating its commitment to America’s farmworkers. We are encouraged that the Wage and Hour Division will be visting farms in South Florida to ensure that labor contractors and growers are following federal labor laws. We firmly believe that all employers throughout the food supply chain should operate their businesses in compliance with the existing labor laws and regulations.”

About FMI

As the food industry association, FMI works with and on behalf of the entire industry to advance a safer, healthier and more efficient consumer food supply chain. FMI brings together a wide range of members across the value chain — from retailers that sell to consumers, to producers that supply food and other products, as well as the wide variety of companies providing critical services — to amplify the collective work of the industry. www.FMI.org