A commission chaired by former U.S. Secretary of Labor John Dunlap oversaw the transition. After initial skepticism 15 years ago, he now sees the arrangement as a win-win for all sides. The prices went up, the growers' income went up, the workers' wages went up. The workers agreed not to strike. The farmers agreed not to lock them out.
Communication is much better.
The workers did not know they could lodge complaints . . . Now complaints from either side can go through the FLOC representative on-site. In North Carolina FLOC has chosen to concentrate on Mt. Olive Pickle Company, which employs 500 people year round and 800 in peak season. It buys 100 million pounds of cucumbers and peppers each year, about 35 percent from North Carolina growers. It sells pickles under its own name in 30 states and produces pickles for Food Lion and Harris-Teeter supermarkets under their brands.