Tomatoland

This is an excellent introduction to the tomato industry, farmwork, and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. Estabrook explores the history of the tomato, its taste and biology, how/when (~1870) and why ("green, cheap, and off-season") tomato farming came to Florida, the fragility of the industry, and the heavy usage of pesticides and other chemicals. Most importantly, it is about the workers who pick the tomatoes. The most engaging and interesting section of the book was the four or so chapters in the middle on their conditions, the creation of the CIW, improvements made, the Fair Food Agreement, Code, etc. The broader context of the industry, including the opinions and circumstances of growers and consumers, makes the story all the more real. He also discusses alternatives (including one whole chapter) to large-scale, chemically based, industrial farming.

This is an excellent introduction to the tomato industry, farmwork, and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. Estabrook explores the history of the tomato, its taste and biology, how/when (~1870) and why ("green, cheap, and off-season") tomato farming came to Florida, the fragility of the industry, and the heavy usage of pesticides and other chemicals. Most importantly, it is about the workers who pick the tomatoes. The most engaging and interesting section of the book was the four or so chapters in the middle on their conditions, the creation of the CIW, improvements made, the Fair Food Agreement, Code, etc. The broader context of the industry, including the opinions and circumstances of growers and consumers, makes the story all the more real. He also discusses alternatives (including one whole chapter) to large-scale, chemically based, industrial farming.