Calling all members of the Fair Food Nation! Today is the day to demand justice for farmworkers by contacting Kroger and demanding the grocery giant join the Fair Food Program!
A year ago today, the notorious crewleader of Los Villatoros’ harvesting company, Bladimir Moreno, pleaded guilty to the federal charge of conspiracy to commit forced labor. Under Moreno, more than a dozen workers were held in forced labor, compelled to harvest watermelon as well as other fruits and vegetables that ended up on our kitchen tables.
In a shocking revelation, the US Department of Labor named the supermarkets that profited from this abuse – and at the top of that list was Kroger, one of the country’s largest supermarkets, which is in the process of trying to become even bigger. And horrifyingly, this isn’t even the first timeKroger’s supply chain was found to be tainted by forced labor.
Marking the one-year anniversary of Moreno’s guilty plea – and a year of total silence from Kroger – we call on everyone in the Fair Food Nation to stand up and demand Kroger join the Fair Food Program to ensure the dignity and safety of farmworkers in its supply chain.
Moreno and his associates may be behind bars, but real progress against modern slavery can only be achieved when all participants in our food supply system are laser-focused on rooting out labor abuses wherever they occur.
Here are five ways you can contact Kroger. You can also go to our LinkTree for easy links on how to engage.
1. Call Kroger
Dial 1-800-576-4377
To speak with a service representative, press 8 then 3 after listening to the menu options. Once they are on the line, let them know that it’s time for Kroger to join the Fair Food Program! We have a suggested script below, which you can read to the representative.
2. Start a live chat with Kroger and copy/paste script
Click “Launch Live Chat” at https://www.kroger.com/hc/help/contact-us
You can skip the menu options by typing “speak to human” into the chat until the automated service connects you with an agent. You do not have to provide your name or email address. You can press “skip” on all options about which department and issue you wish to direct your chat. Kroger’s automated service will then connect you with a live agent. You may have to wait a few minutes before connecting with one, but keep the tab open and stay online! Once you are connected to someone, simply share the Fair Food Nation’s message (below) into the chat! You can stay online to respond to the agent, or you can simply exit the tab.
3. Email Kroger
Send an email to [email protected] with the suggested Title: “It’s time for Kroger to join the Fair Food Program” and include your message for the body of the email. We have a suggested script below, which you can copy/paste into the body of the email.
You can also fill out this quick form, which will automatically email Kroger’s customer service and Kroger executives as well with the script.
4. Share our Instagram posts and tag Kroger! @krogerco
You can also comment on Kroger’s posts on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter), and LinkedIn demanding they join the Fair Food Program!
5. Deliver a letter to your local Kroger demanding they join the Fair Food Program
If you shop at, or live near, a Kroger store, you can print out the CIW’s letter and hand it to the manager of that store. Want a digital version? You can also request a copy to be mailed to you from us by emailing [email protected] with the subject line “Requesting Kroger letter.” You can deliver it to any of the following locations: Kroger, Baker’s, City Market, Copps, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Foods Co, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Gerbes, Harris Teeter, Jay C Food Store, King Soopers, Mariano’s, Metro Market, Pay-Less Super Markets, Pick ’n Save, Owen’s, QFC, Ralphs, Roundy’s, Ruler, and Smith’s Food and Drug.
SCRIPT (English)
Hello,
As a customer, I am deeply troubled by Kroger’s refusal to join the Fair Food Program, especially in light of publicized findings of modern-day slavery in Kroger’s supply chain. In these cases, workers were forced to harvest tomatoes and watermelons, which Kroger sold in its stores to unsuspecting consumers. In the most recent case connected to Kroger, one survivor who was trapped in modern slavery by Los Villatoros Harvesting told prosecutors: “I have not left [the US for Mexico] because the Villatoros made me fear for my life… I was robbed of the opportunity to watch my son grow up.”
Under the Fair Food Program, workers are protected against human rights violations such as sexual harassment and assault, wage theft, dangerous working conditions, and retaliation for speaking up for their rights. Kroger currently lags behind its competitors like Ahold, Trader Joe’s, and Whole Foods who have all joined the Fair Food Program. The market strength of large buyers of produce helps enforce the workers’ rights and safety on farms in the Fair Food Program. Kroger clearly has problems, and Kroger has the ability to solve those problems by joining the Fair Food Program.
There is a human rights crisis happening in Kroger’s supply chain. It is time to take responsibility for the farmworkers who make your profits possible and protect their basic rights by joining the Fair Food Program.
Thank you for your consideration. I sincerely hope Kroger will do the right thing.
Spanish (Spanish)
Hola,
Como cliente de Kroger, estoy profundamente preocupado por el rechazo de Kroger a juntar con el Programa por Comida Justa, especialmente a la luz de hallazgos multiples de esclavitud moderna en su cadena de surtido. En estos casos, los trabajadores eran forzados a cosechar tomates y melones, que Kroger vendía en sus tiendas a consumidores desprevenidos. En el caso más reciente conectado a Kroger, un sobreviviente que estuvo atrapado en esclavitud moderna por Los Villatoros Harvesting cuento a fiscales: “No ha salio [los Estados Unidos por Mexico] porque los Villatoros me hicieron tener miedo por mi vida…yo estuvo robado de la oportunidad de ver mi hijo crecer.”
En un rancho del Programa por Comida Justa, estos tipos de abusos serán prevenidos totalmente. Bajo el Programa de Comida Justa, trabajadores están protegidos contra violaciones de derechos humanos que van desde acoso sexual y asalto, robo salario, a condiciones laborales peligrosos y represalias por hablando de voz por sus derechos. Kroger actualmente se queda atrás de sus competidores como Ahold, Trader Joe’s, y Whole Foods que todos han juntado con el Programa por Comida Justa. La fortaleza del mercado de compradores grandes de productos ayuda a enforzar los derechos y seguridad de los trabajadores en ranchos del Programa por Comida Justa. Es claro que Kroger tiene problemas, y Kroger tiene la habilidad de resolver estas problemas a través de juntandolos con el Programa por Comida Justa.
Hay una crisis en la cadena de surtido de Kroger. Es tiempo de tomar responsabilidad por los trabajadores agrícolas que hacen posible sus ingresos, y protegen sus derechos básicos a través de juntar con el Programa de Comida Justa.
Gracias por su tiempo.
