Pacific Tomato Growers, a Palmetto, Fla.-based tomato grower-packer-shipper, has been awarded $1.7 million through the USDA’s Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection pilot grant program, according to a news release.
The FLSP grant has three goals:
- Drive U.S. economic recovery and safeguard domestic food supply by addressing current labor shortages in agriculture.
- Reduce irregular migration from northern Central America through the expansion of regular pathways.
- Improve working conditions for all farmworkers.
Pacific Tomato Growers’ awarded project, “Development and Improvement of Agriculture Labor Program for Domestic and H-2A Farmworkers,” focuses on comprehensive worker management and welfare, the release said.
The family-owned tomato company says the initiative will be executed through its continuing strategic partnerships with the Fair Food Program, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, and the Fair Food Standards Council.
“We’re grateful under these extreme labor conditions to be awarded the FLSP grant by the USDA,” said Jon Esformes, CEO of Pacific Tomato Growers. “This funding will enable us to continue attracting farmworkers to our domestic U.S. farming operations while maintaining our leadership in setting a standard of excellence in the agricultural industry.”
Pacific Tomato Growers says the FLSP grant will help solidify its position as a preferred ethical employer within the agricultural sector, allowing it to attract and retain a robust labor force.
The initiative is expected to extend the company’s operational capacity into Central America, including Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, addressing H2-A program challenges such as regulatory compliance, housing scarcity and international recruitment logistics.
“We applaud the USDA for their vision and support,” Esformes said. “This grant is not just an investment in our company, but in the lives and well-being of our hard-working people on the farms. Our partnership with the Fair Food Program, Coalition of Immokalee Workers, and Fair Food Standards Council ensures that we continue to provide a safe, just and participatory work environment.
As the first grower to sign a direct agreement with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers back in 2010, we are honored and grateful that the USDA is recognizing the model of excellence that the FFP, CIW and FFSC have set and continue to expand,” Esformes continued. “These organizations have been instrumental in helping us maintain the platinum standard in agricultural labor practices.”
