Eva Longoria Hosts Benefit for Her New Documentary “Food Chains” Exposes Exploitation in America’s Farm Labor Sector
Last Thursday evening, acclaimed actress and philanthropist Eva Longoria hosted an intimate gathering of film enthusiasts and human rights activists at the stately Park Avenue home of Craig and Deborah Cogut in support of her upcoming film, Food Chains. This documentary on farm labor in the United States stars a bevy of noted advocates including Eric Schlosser, Dolores Huerta, Kerry Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The son of Deborah and Craig Cogut, Jonathan, who is also a senior at Brown, served as an Associate Producer on this project.
Friends, new and old, braved the blustery New York winter weather to learn about the suffering of the millions of people at the core of our agricultural system, namely the farmworkers, and to donate toward the completion of this film.
“Farmworkers are amongst the most poorly paid and most poorly treated workers in this country,” shared Ms. Longoria. “They provide an abundance of food to our tables yet many go to bed hungry at night. This is not an immigration issue. This is a human rights issue.”
The film’s director, Sanjay Rawal, added “With all the interest in food right now, we need to have more interest in the hands that pick our food.”
Ms. Longoria’s film Food Chains exposes the current and historic exploitation of farmworkers including stunning revelations that currently thousands of laborers in our nation’s fields are estimated to be held in bondage as modern-day slaves. The film also exposes the forces behind these abuses as well as the pathway to change. The film is currently in post-production with an expected 2013 release date.
“We are connected to each one of these workers through every bite of food we take,” remarked Ms. Longoria.
Farmworkers profiled in the film came from as far away as Florida to participate in the evening. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers, some of the most heralded farm laborers in the country and winners of the RFK Human Rights Award, told the audience that just a penny more per pound would take Florida’s tomato pickers out of abject poverty.
The evening marked perhaps the first time that this topic was discussed at an event on Park Avenue since the days of the United Farmworker grape boycotts. Guests left inspired, motivated and encouraged that a solution to end the suffering of millions within our borders was possible.
Those present also included Avis Richards, Vice President Biden’s niece Missy Owens, Myrna Blyth and Gabriela Goddard of AARP, Thomas Saenz President of MALDEF, Heather Tierney, Cynthia Ryan, Executive Producers Alfonso Montiel and Jennifer Hickman, Stephanie Hunt, Mayra Hernandez of Banorte, Dan Gluck, Stacey and Josh Cohen, Christy McLear, Hector Sanchez, Chris Canavan, Les Cooney, Penny Abeywardena, Abigail Disney, Annie Griffith, Judge Laura Safer Espinoza, Mallika Dutt and Jenni LeCompte of th US Treasury. Executive Producer Bob Leary, Producers Hamilton Fish and Smriti Keshari, Co-producer David Damian Figueroa and Associate Producers Katie Leary were also on hand. http://www.foodchainsfilm.com Contact: Sanjay Rawal // sanjay@illumine.com
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