As the year comes to a close, we want to share something with the rest of the Fair Food community that has deeply moved all of us here in Immokalee.
Students from All Saints Catholic School recently took the time and care to write personal letters to farmworkers — messages of gratitude, encouragement, and solidarity for the people whose hard work feeds us all. These letters were a powerful reminder that farmworkers are valued and supported far beyond the fields — an important truth to remember in a moment when it is so frequently and loudly denied.
One student wrote:
“Dear farmworkers, thank you for your hard work in the fields. Because of you, we have food to eat every day. You show God’s love because you make sure we eat. I want you to know that your work is very important to God and to us. It inspires me to help others and do better.”
Another shared:
“Dear farmworkers, thank you for giving us the crops we need to live and the yummy fruits. Your guys’ fruits are all different flavors and taste amazing. Also your vegetables too. We all thank you for your effort. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
We were honored to share these heartfelt messages with members of the farmworker community here in Immokalee during a recent Wednesday night meeting at the CIW office. For workers who too often experience exploitation and abuse, these letters were a meaningful affirmation that they are not alone — and that the next generation believes deeply in their right to a life of dignity and respect.
At the CIW, we see this same spirit reflected every day in the Fair Food Program, where farmworkers, growers, and buyers work together to ensure that the people who feed this nation can do so free from harassment, wage theft, retaliation, and modern-day slavery. We also see it reflected in the ongoing Campaign for Fair Food, which brings together consumers, students, and faith communities in solidarity with farmworkers, urging more corporate buyers to join the Fair Food
