Coalition of Immokalee Workers

Coalition of Immokalee Workers is a worker-based human rights organization in Immokalee, FL, dedicated to advancing fair labor standards and protecting the rights of farmworkers across the United States and internationally. While the business is listed under IT Support, its actual mission centers on social justice, with a focus on the Fair Food Program, a pioneering worker-driven model that enforces labor protections through collaboration among farmworkers, growers, and retailers. The organization conducts on-the-farm education, operates an independent monitoring body, and ensures enforceable rights including shade, clean water, rest breaks, and medical access without retaliation. Its work has eliminated forced labor and sexual violence on participating farms and continues to expand into new crops and regions.

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers was founded in 1993 as a grassroots movement rooted in farmworker organizing. It launched the Fair Food Program in 2011, creating a unique model of worker-driven social responsibility that has since grown to protect tens of thousands of workers in 22 states and three countries. The program’s standards, such as year-round access to electrolytes, heat illness training, and the right to report abuses without fear, have been recognized by major media outlets and awarded national honors, including the MacArthur Fellowship and the Presidential Medal. The organization continues to expand its impact by supporting worker-led initiatives in industries like sugarcane, bananas, and plant nurseries.

Located at 110 S 2nd St in Immokalee, the organization sits just a short walk from Zocalo plaza, a public park, and is within a quarter mile of Immokalee Road, West Main Street, and the Collier County Tax Collector’s office. The community center on-site serves as a hub for advocacy, education, and support for farmworkers and their families.

The Coalition is widely recognized for its groundbreaking work in human rights, earning accolades such as the Clinton Global Citizen Award and the Franklin D. Roosevelt Freedom From Want Medal. Its model has become a benchmark for ethical labor practices in agriculture and beyond, proving that worker-led change can drive systemic transformation.

In Immokalee, where agriculture is central to the community’s identity, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers stands as a powerful example of how grassroots organizing can deliver lasting justice.