"Ohio diocese joins Wendy's boycott to support farmworkers," 3 Dec. 2021

The Columbus diocese is among more than 150 Ohio organizations and faith leaders joining a boycott of the Wendy's fast food chain called by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, urging CEO Todd A. Penegor to enroll in the Fair Food Program, a partnership among farmworkers, growers and buyers that advocates for a worker-driver model of social responsibility. 

... "By refusing to participate in the Fair Food Program, Wendy's has opted to profit from farm worker abuse and poverty and continues to provide a market for less reputable growers,” states a letter to CEO Penegor, organized by Ohio's Faith in Public Life and signed by 150 faith leaders who support the boycott. 

... [A] representative of Wendy's said the company is proud of its brand and its "commitment to deliver high quality, ethically sourced products" for its restaurants. "We have high expectations for ourselves and for others with whom we work, including with regards to quality, integrity, and human dignity," wrote Liliana Esposito, Wendy's chief corporate affairs and sustainability officer. 

... "We have no reason to doubt that the Fair Food Program has helped improve conditions on outdoor tomato farms," the company wrote. "However, linking this work with the idea that joining this program, and purchasing field-grown, commodity tomatoes, is the only way that Wendy's can demonstrate responsibility in our supply chain is not true."