Farmworker Justice Honors David Damian Figueroa and Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce

Farmworker Justice will recognize David Damian Figueroa with its Dolores Huerta Award Thursday, February 23, honoring his important contributions towards advancing  farmworkers’ quest for justice throughout his career in business and at nonprofit organizations.

Mr. Figueroa, an executive with Frontier Communications, was a farmworker as a child, and is one of the leading influencers in shaping Latina and Latino popular arts through his work in film, television, music production, and publicity. His role as an executive producer of the critically acclaimed documentary film Food Chains and associate producer of The Harvest/La Cosecha brought national attention to the conditions of farmworkers.  “David Damian Figueroa has never forgotten where he comes from and, more importantly, throughout his career, he has used  his remarkable skills and resourcefulness to elevate often marginalized voices,” said Bruce Goldstein, President of Farmworker Justice.

Farmworker Justice will also present a corporate social responsibility award to Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce for its successful efforts to engage with employees, farmworker organizations, and other agricultural stakeholders to improve food safety, wages and working conditions, and occupational safety.  “We greatly appreciate the opportunity the company has provided us to learn more about the business of farming and to collaborate on developing and promoting cutting-edge labor and environmental practices in agriculture.”  Headquartered in San Diego with operations in Watsonville and Oxnard, California, and in Mexico, the company grows strawberries, tomatoes and other crops.

The event will be held at Sheppard Mullin |333 S. Hope Street, Los Angeles from 6 to 8:30pm.

Host Committee:

Gilbert Vasquez       Vasquez & Co.

Alfred Fraijo, Jr.       Sheppard Mullin

Tony Salazar           McCormack Baron Salazar

Arturo Rodriguez    United Farm Workers

Andrea Bazan         El Puente Learning Center

Alex Nogales          National Hispanic Media Coalition

James Garrison      Pacific Federal

Rachel Garrison      

Craig McNamara    Sierra Orchards, Calif. State Board of Food & Agriculture

Dr. Alma Martinez

Special Guests:  Dolores Huerta, actor/producer Nicholas Gonzalez, and actor Johnny Ortiz

Farmworker Justice will recognize David Damian Figueroa with its Dolores Huerta Award Thursday, February 23, honoring his important contributions towards advancing  farmworkers’ quest for justice throughout his career in business and at nonprofit organizations.

Mr. Figueroa, an executive with Frontier Communications, was a farmworker as a child, and is one of the leading influencers in shaping Latina and Latino popular arts through his work in film, television, music production, and publicity. His role as an executive producer of the critically acclaimed documentary film Food Chains and associate producer of The Harvest/La Cosecha brought national attention to the conditions of farmworkers.  “David Damian Figueroa has never forgotten where he comes from and, more importantly, throughout his career, he has used  his remarkable skills and resourcefulness to elevate often marginalized voices,” said Bruce Goldstein, President of Farmworker Justice.

Farmworker Justice will also present a corporate social responsibility award to Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce for its successful efforts to engage with employees, farmworker organizations, and other agricultural stakeholders to improve food safety, wages and working conditions, and occupational safety.  “We greatly appreciate the opportunity the company has provided us to learn more about the business of farming and to collaborate on developing and promoting cutting-edge labor and environmental practices in agriculture.”  Headquartered in San Diego with operations in Watsonville and Oxnard, California, and in Mexico, the company grows strawberries, tomatoes and other crops.

The event will be held at Sheppard Mullin |333 S. Hope Street, Los Angeles from 6 to 8:30pm.

Host Committee:

Gilbert Vasquez       Vasquez & Co.

Alfred Fraijo, Jr.       Sheppard Mullin

Tony Salazar           McCormack Baron Salazar

Arturo Rodriguez    United Farm Workers

Andrea Bazan         El Puente Learning Center

Alex Nogales          National Hispanic Media Coalition

James Garrison      Pacific Federal

Rachel Garrison      

Craig McNamara    Sierra Orchards, Calif. State Board of Food & Agriculture

Dr. Alma Martinez

Special Guests:  Dolores Huerta, actor/producer Nicholas Gonzalez, and actor Johnny Ortiz