#amys

Thank you @rand-muadib-althor for finding this!

My heart is so full of appreciation for this ultimately small detail, but something that's so so important, especially considering what's to come

—Robert Jordan, The Shadow Rising, chapter 23: Beyond the Stone

Same

Did you hear the news about Amy's Kitchen? It's heartbreaking that I have added Amy's Kitchen to my list of Vegan businesses to no longer consume or engage with, despite their "sustainability mission", because of how they're actively exploiting Black and Brown workers. In an article published this January by NBC, workers that were interviewed described Amy's as an "unforgiving workplace" that had no problem pushing them past the point of injury. One worker detailed how fast-paced shifts making frozen burritos hurt their body and mentioned once when their supervisor forced them to remove their arm brace during their shift. Their injury worsened and a year and a half later, like many other injured workers, they were relocated to clean the cafeteria, called "the corral", and were left feeling used and devalued, from the brand that "always cooks their food with love". Amy's Kitchen generated around $600 million in sales in 2020 and is among a select group of brands with a reputation for being socially responsible. Their mission has been focused on using organic ingredients, yet that does not reflect those closest to producing the food seen in supermarkets or chain restaurants. The issue with many Vegan businesses is that they always position themselves as leaders of sustainability and ethicality, but this needs to extend to include people and labor in the equation. You cannot have a sustainable business while exploiting and abusing workers, you certainly cannot have an ethical business doing so. Labor unions should always be front and center for any Vegan business and I don't think it's controversial asking for people who look like me to be treated and paid fairly. While I used to love eating their products and have the economic privilege to opt-out of these industries, I have added them to my list of Vegan businesses defined by vegan capitalism, rather than intersectional justice. I've realized that my consumption isn't perfect, but raising awareness helps people think critically about how vegan companies position themselves in the dominant vegan lifestyle movement. -queer brown vegan