January 21, 2008

ISSUE 1202

BURGER KING MAY LOOK TO OTHER REGIONS FOR TOMATOES

The Associated Press reported Jan. 15 that it had obtained a letter from Burger King Vice President Steven Grover to suppliers saying that in an effort to protect the BKC brand and supply system from disruption, the company is “developing contingency plans to assure our long-term supply of tomatoes."

Grover asked the suppliers to "submit contingency plans for the possibility that we would choose not to purchase tomatoes grown on farms in the Immokalee, Florida, region."

The action is the latest development in efforts by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers to have Burger King and other fast-food companies pay a penny a pound more for Florida tomatoes, with the proceeds going to help boost farmworkers’ pay.

Burger King spokeswoman Denise Wilson confirmed the letter's authenticity and said the chain is always looking at contingency plans while emphasizing that Burger King buys from repackers in Immokalee, not directly from farmers there.