Today I am posting something more serious than the usual fare I serve up. I heard about The Giving Table from Cassie of Bake Your Day. She had given me the honour of interviewing her for Burning Down The Kitchen. I always ask the folks I interview if there is anything they are working on they would like me to share. Cassie blew my mind with her small request. It was to mention her work with this organization in raising awareness about the conditions workers face in the tomato fields. Her request was so selfless that I knew I would make an effort to promote the cause in the interview. I decided to go a step further after receiving an email from Cassie's friend Nicole. I made the decision to stand alongside fellow bloggers like Cassie, and everyone involved in Food Bloggers for Slave Free Tomatoes to help make people aware of what is going on in the world around them. So not only will you be getting a recipe today but I am going to ask you all to go read over the information on The Giving Table. Also please read the information on the Recipe for Change page. It will change your outlook on where you buy your tomatoes and how the workers are treated.
Here is the information in their words as I feel it's the best way to get the point across. I do not want to lose anything in translation, so to speak. Please read it over and decide if you would like to get involved.
The Problem
Slavery is not just happening overseas. Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Molloy once
called Florida’s tomato fields “ground zero” for modern-day slavery in the United States. In the
past 15 years, over 1,000 people have been freed from slavery in U.S. tomato fields.
The Solution
Recipe for Change–a campaign led by International Justice Mission in partnership with the
Fair Food Standards Council and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers–is targeting three
major supermarket chains this summer (Ahold, Publix and Kroger’s), and asking its CEOs
to support the Fair Food Program. Corporations that join agree to pay a small price increase
for fairly harvested tomatoes (1.5 cents more per pound), and promise to shift purchases to
the Florida tomato growers who abide by these higher standards–and away from those who
won’t.
Major fast food companies, like McDonalds and Subway, have already endorsed the Fair Food
Program, but the largest U.S. supermarket chains have yet to support this collaborative effort
to eradicate modern-day slavery.
Call to Action
Supermarkets can help eliminate slavery and other serious abuses from the tomato supply chain
when they join the Fair Food Program. But in order to change its policies, CEOs need pressure
from consumers.
Take 30 seconds, raise your voice, and sign your name to help ensure that supermarket tomatoes
are slave-free!
**Link to this page where you can send the letter: Send HERE!
I hope you all take some time to read it over and decide for yourselves if you'd like to be involved. I don't normally stand on soap boxes but I felt like it was worth it in this case. The situation in Florida makes me wonder about our own local tomato workers. Everyone deserves to be treated fairly no mater where they come from or where they work. So think it over and follow your own heart.
While you are thinking over whether you want to get involved I'd like to share a tomato recipe with you all. I know this is an oddity for the Lunatic. Me and tomatoes and are not generally friends. I have some sort of weird allergy to raw tomatoes so I rarely use them in recipes. Hubby loves them but for me just cutting them causes a rash and itching beyond belief. I had B-Dude cut them up for me, then I carefully mixed it up with a spoon. I was so careful, seriously, I was. Until I took the photos. Then I touched one, and I am now itching the bejesus out of my neck and face. I didn't like the placement of one tiny little tomato and now I'm paying the price. Apparently I should have used tongs or tweezers to move the darn thing. Anyhow, I used a recipe from Canadian Living that looked promising. I do not have many tomato recipes in my arsenal due to my allergy so I needed some guidelines and inspiration. Hope you like this. I would say I sure did but the rash spreading its way across my neck and chest would beg to differ. I'll get hubs opinion tomorrow when he gets home.
Roasted Cherry Tomatoes in Support of Food Bloggers for Slave Free Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 4 cups of cherry tomatoes cut in half
- 4 cloves of garlic run through a garlic press
- 2 shallots chopped roughly
- 4 tablespoons good quality olive oil
- ¼ cup Gluten Free Bread Crumbs
- ½ cup goat cheese crumbled up
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- Onion Powder or Salt to taste
- Seasoning Salt to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Line a 9 x 13 pan with parchment paper.
- Have someone who is not allergic to tomatoes cut them in half.
- Then toss the tomatoes and all the other ingredients into a large bowl.
- Mix them all up really well with a spoon, if you’re allergic do not touch the mixture!
- Plop the tomato mixture into your prepared pan, being careful not to touch it if you’re allergic.
- Smooth them out in an even layer, with a spoon so you’re still not touching the tomatoes.
- Place in oven for about 45 minutes or so. You should try to stir them up carefully once during the cooking time.
- Remove from oven and serve with a big old allergic smile!
Notes
Looks good right. I just love staring at tomatoes. I love the colour and the way they pop any dish they are in. Unfortunately for me they also agitate my skin so I can only admire from afar. It's too bad though as they are so pretty. I can do tomatoes if they are cooked down like mad. They seem to cause less issues the more processed they are oddly enough. I do occasionally used canned ones for pizza sauce and pasta sauce. I just need to make sure it's cooked really well so it doesn't bother my skin. Odd I know.
Make sure you read about on this great cause and if so inclined sign the petition to make some changes. If nothing else be more careful where you buy your tomatoes from. We can all make the world a better place by taking small steps in the right direction. Thanks for stopping by.
Toodles and smoochies! xx
Joanne @ Fifteen Spatulas
So simple, yet so stunning and it looks divine. Love these little stuffed tomatoes!
Kim Bee
Thanks so much Joanne. I had fun making them. Hoping hubs enjoys them tomorrow. He's a big tomato fan.
Suzanne Perazzini
I love tomatoes but there are certain cultures that considered tomatoes poisonous in the past so I am not surprised you are allergic to them. Not meaning you but that some people are allergic to them.
Once I saw a movie based on fact about sex slaves in the States and I was horrified to say the least that slavery still exists there. And now the tomato thing. What is it with the States and slavery? Sorry, maybe that was a bit harsh.
Anyway, your dish looks great to me since I could eat tomatoes at every meal.
Kim Bee
If I touch the plant itself bad things happen. It is not pretty. I used to have hubs take care of them in the garden when we had one.
The world is a strange place. I don't understand so many things about it.
Thanks so much. Hubs it like you, he really likes them.
The Mom Chef
I'm glad we worked together on this cause today. I hope millions of people wrote the CEO's of those food chains. I'm sorry that you get a rash from tomatoes. That's downright horrific. Dudette and I eat tomatoes like apples. Your does look very beautiful and I'm sure tastes fantastic.
Kim Bee
Me too. It was such a good cause. Makes you think for sure. I can't get over how some places treat employees.
I cannot touch the plants either. Makes gardening interesting. Hubs loves them so he'll be chowing down on this when he gets back from out of town tomorrow.
Choc Chip Uru
You are participating in such a wonderful cause my friend, it's awesome to see so many bloggers involved 🙂
Stunning looking tomatoes, I would eat them by the tray!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Kim Bee
Thanks so much my dear. I am so impressed how many got involved. Such a good cause.
Kayle (The Cooking Actress)
This is such a great, and important cause. Thanks for sharing it!
Kim Bee
Thanks for visiting Kayle. I am proud to be involved with this.
Cassie
YOU are wonderful, thank you so, so much for posting this!! I love roasted tomatoes!
Kim Bee
Awe thanks Cassie. I feel the same way about you. xx
Shut Up & Cook
I recently learned about this as well and was absolutely shocked! I'm growing lots of tomatoes myself this year, but given that we're in Seattle they won't be arriving until next month I'm afraid. In the meantime though, and for the non-summer months moving forward I fully intend to buy slave-free. Thanks for bringing attention to this...very needed.
Kim Bee
I didn't put any in this year. But we live near Leamington which is where Heinz is so there's never a lack of tomatoes nearby. I am so pleased to be involved and spread some awareness.
kitchenriffs
Good recipe. Having lived in Florida, I'm well aware of the awful conditions some of the farm workers suffer. This is a good cause. Oh, and your rash? You might try something called "Ivy Wash" - it's designed for people who suffer from poison ivy, but it's worth trying with a tomato rash too (I don't suffer from it, but I know some people who do - and the Ivy Wash works for some, not others).
Kim Bee
Thanks. I need to find out how our local workers here in Canada are treated. We live right near the Heinz factory.
I'll have to try that. Luckily it's gone on it's own. But it happens any time I come near a tomato.
Ramona
Another great tomato recipe for a great cause!
Kim Bee
Thanks so much Ramona.
Cucina49
Wow, what an eye-opener. While I knew about the difficult to awful conditions of a lot of farmworkers, I didn't know there was specifically such a problem in the tomato fields.
Kim Bee
It's definitely an eye opener. I wonder how many of the fields treat their workers.
Kristen
This almost makes me ashamed to live in Florida. I went right over and sent a letter. Oy. People.
I didn't know you can't eat tomatoes. You poor thing. I have a few children who might wish they could have such an allergy. They hate tomatoes and I am not very sympathetic. But I feel terrible for you.
Kim Bee
Ah, no way Kristen. Florida has so many good things about it too.
Yup, it makes me get all crazy itchy. I try to avoid touching them or the plants when I garden. Oddly I can eat tomato products if they are really cooked down.
Deborah
I love this cause! And I love this recipe. And I don't know if I've ever known someone with a tomato allergy. Strange. But then again, my brother is allergic to potatoes, and I had never heard of that before!
Kim Bee
I was so inspired to get involved. Anything for my friend Cassie. I adore that woman.
Potatoes, that is a weird one. My sister seems to be the same way. It's totally a skin thing. I don't get tummy aches or anything. We both have skin reactions to raw ones. And plants. No clue why.
Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love.
A great recipe for a great cause!!
Emily @ Life on Food
Great cause and I am glad so many people are raising awareness!
Nami | Just One Cookbook
Although we love tomatoes, I have never roasted cherry tomatoes before. This sounds like a very easy recipe to do for a side dish one night. I need some change in my menu once in a while. I admire you to join this event for a great cause... one day I want to participate this kind of things when I can do things in timely manner. Great post!
Tom Neman
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