Why Whole Foods’ Discontinuation of Prison Labor Made Products is Misguided

[Valin]

Legal Insurrection:

“Work training is a key component of rehabilitation in state prisons”

Kemberlee Kaye

Thursday, October 1, 2015

 

Facing pressure from activists, Grocer Whole Foods recently announced that by April of 2016 they’ll no longer been selling products made from prison labor.

 

Not only is the Texan grocer’s move disappointing, it’s also misguided.

 

According to NPR, the groups targeting Whole Foods decried prison labor as “slave labor” and “exploitation.”

 

 

The move comes on the heels of a demonstration in Houston where the company was chastised for employing inmates through prison-work programs.

 

Michael Allen, founder of End Mass Incarceration Houston, organized the protest. He says Whole Foods was engaging in exploitation since inmates are typically paid very low wages.

 

“People are incarcerated and then forced to work for pennies on the dollar — compare that to what the products are sold for,” Allen tells The Salt.

 

Currently, Whole Foods sells a goat cheese produced by Haystack Mountain Goat Dairy in Longmont, Colo., and a tilapia from Quixotic Farming, which bills itself as a family-owned sustainable seafood company.

 

These companies partner with Colorado Correctional Industries, a division of the Colorado Department of Corrections, to employ prisoners to milk goats and raise the fish.”

 

 

Exploiting inmates?

 

What about providing them with trade skills, social skills, or teaching work ethic and purpose? That’s exactly what Colorado Correctional Industries does. “Every participant is not only encouraged, but expected to contribute ideas, effort and commitment,” says CCI.

 

 

These companies partner with Colorado Correctional Industries, a division of the Colorado Department of Corrections, to employ prisoners to milk goats and raise the fish.

 

CCI’s mission is to provide inmates with employment and training. The intent is to give them skills that could help them find employment once they’re released. CCI employs about 1,600 inmates, according to a report by the Colorado state auditor.

 

In an email, Whole Food’s spokesperson Michael Silverman tells The Salt that the company liked the idea of employing inmates. “We felt that supporting supplier partners who found a way to be part of paid, rehabilitative work being done by inmates would help people get back on their feet,” he writes.

 

 

(Snip)

 

 

... ... ...

[clearvision]

Are you thumping head because you think employing inmates is bad or good in this case?

 

If Whole Foods was paying less for labor to drive profit, then not good. They could easily donate difference to groups helping with this type effort versus bow to pressure to not employ prison labor. We have a huge population that has no skill and anything we can do to give them one is beneficial or their skill will continue to be in selling drugs or theft.

[Valin]

@clearvision

 

 

Facing pressure from activists, Grocer Whole Foods recently announced that by April of 2016 they’ll no longer been selling products made from prison labor.

 

 

This is a very bad thing.

 

 

 

We have a huge population that has no skill and anything we can do to give them one is beneficial or their skill will continue to be in selling drugs or theft.

 

 

Could not agree with you more!

 

Should have made that clearer.