Bolthouse Farms refutes accusations of gay rights activist groups
Bolthouse Farms refutes accusations of gay rights activist groups
An organization called Californians Against Hate and several other gay rights groups have called on supporters of gay marriage to protest and boycott carrot giant Wm. Bolthouse Farms Inc. in Bakersfield, CA, because of a political donation made by the Bolthouse Foundation, although both Bolthouse Farms and the Bolthouse Foundation say there is no connection between the two organizations.
The Bolthouse Foundation, whose president, William Bolthouse, sold his interest in Bolthouse Farms three years ago, donated $100,000 in March in support of Proposition 8, a California ballot initiative that would amend the state constitution to read, "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."
In 2000, California voters approved a ballot initiative, Proposition 22, which formally defined marriage as being between a man and a woman, although state laws do recognize domestic partnerships.
But on May 15, the California Supreme Court struck down Proposition 22. If approved by voters in November, Proposition 8 would override the Supreme Court's decision.
According to Fred Karger, the founder of Californians Against Hate, the purpose of his organization is to publicize donors, particularly corporate donors or donors with ties to corporations, who have, "with impunity," contributed substantial amounts of money in support of Prop. 8.
Mr. Bolthouse was not available for comment, but the Bolthouse Foundation web site states that "Mr. & Mrs. William J. Bolthouse sold their interests in Wm. Bolthouse Farms in late 2005, and since then the Bolthouse Foundation has reflected their giving decisions exclusively. The Bolthouse Foundation is a separate entity from Bolthouse Farms, and all funding decisions by the Bolthouse Foundation are made solely by the foundation. No members of the Bolthouse Foundation have a financial interest in Bolthouse Farms, and the Bolthouse Foundation receives neither financial support nor benefits from the profits of Bolthouse Farms."
According to the web site, the purpose of the Bolthouse Foundation is to "support charitable and religious organizations whose ministry, goals and operating principles are consistent with Evangelical Christianity."
In response to e-mails and telephone messages to Bolthouse Farms Chairman Andre Radandt and President Jeffrey Dunn, the company furnished The Produce News with a written statement refuting any connection between the Bolthouse Foundation and Bolthouse Farms.
"The foundation is a separate entity and is not connected to Bolthouse Farms," the statement said. "In the interest of clarifying the facts, Bolthouse Farms would like to make the following points:
"In March, William Bolthouse Jr. made a personal contribution of $100,000 to ProtectMarriage.com, a group behind Proposition 8.
"Mr. Bolthouse's personal actions are not related to Bolthouse Farms, the consumer products farming company, in any way.
"Bolthouse Farms had no knowledge of Mr. Bolthouse's donation until it was made public on June 3.
"Mr. Bolthouse's ownership and involvement with Bolthouse Farms ceased in December of 2005, when he sold the company.
"Mr. Bolthouse is president of the Bolthouse Foundation, a privately held and operated philanthropic Christian organization whose ownership, purpose, direction and management are completely separate and distinct from that of Bolthouse Farms.
"Andre and Lisa Radant [daughter and son-in-law of William Bolthouse] currently own a minority interest in Bolthouse Farms, and are the only family members who retain ownership in the company.
"Andre and Lisa Radant are not involved in the Bolthouse Foundation. "The Bolthouse Foundation does not receive financial support or benefit from the profits of Bolthouse Farms.
"Bolthouse Farms neither supports, tracks nor in any way influences or condones the activities of the Bolthouse Foundation."
The statement also noted that the Bolthouse Farms "philosophical heritage manifests itself in business through the mutual respect, personal dignity and equitable treatment of all of our customers, employees, vendors and associates. The company does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, mental condition, handicap, veteran status, sexual orientation or marital status. Benefits are available for qualified dependents of same-sex marriages just as they are available for qualified dependents of heterosexual marriages. The requirements are exactly the same."
Nonetheless, Mr. Karger continued to hold Bolthouse Farms accountable for the donation made by the Bolthouse Foundation. He told The Produce News that his organization is contemplating intensifying its actions "specifically targeted to Bolthouse Farms," encouraged by the perceived success of the group's boycott against a San Diego hotel that resulted in two scheduled conferences being cancelled.
The Bolthouse Foundation, whose president, William Bolthouse, sold his interest in Bolthouse Farms three years ago, donated $100,000 in March in support of Proposition 8, a California ballot initiative that would amend the state constitution to read, "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."
In 2000, California voters approved a ballot initiative, Proposition 22, which formally defined marriage as being between a man and a woman, although state laws do recognize domestic partnerships.
But on May 15, the California Supreme Court struck down Proposition 22. If approved by voters in November, Proposition 8 would override the Supreme Court's decision.
According to Fred Karger, the founder of Californians Against Hate, the purpose of his organization is to publicize donors, particularly corporate donors or donors with ties to corporations, who have, "with impunity," contributed substantial amounts of money in support of Prop. 8.
Mr. Bolthouse was not available for comment, but the Bolthouse Foundation web site states that "Mr. & Mrs. William J. Bolthouse sold their interests in Wm. Bolthouse Farms in late 2005, and since then the Bolthouse Foundation has reflected their giving decisions exclusively. The Bolthouse Foundation is a separate entity from Bolthouse Farms, and all funding decisions by the Bolthouse Foundation are made solely by the foundation. No members of the Bolthouse Foundation have a financial interest in Bolthouse Farms, and the Bolthouse Foundation receives neither financial support nor benefits from the profits of Bolthouse Farms."
According to the web site, the purpose of the Bolthouse Foundation is to "support charitable and religious organizations whose ministry, goals and operating principles are consistent with Evangelical Christianity."
In response to e-mails and telephone messages to Bolthouse Farms Chairman Andre Radandt and President Jeffrey Dunn, the company furnished The Produce News with a written statement refuting any connection between the Bolthouse Foundation and Bolthouse Farms.
"The foundation is a separate entity and is not connected to Bolthouse Farms," the statement said. "In the interest of clarifying the facts, Bolthouse Farms would like to make the following points:
"In March, William Bolthouse Jr. made a personal contribution of $100,000 to ProtectMarriage.com, a group behind Proposition 8.
"Mr. Bolthouse's personal actions are not related to Bolthouse Farms, the consumer products farming company, in any way.
"Bolthouse Farms had no knowledge of Mr. Bolthouse's donation until it was made public on June 3.
"Mr. Bolthouse's ownership and involvement with Bolthouse Farms ceased in December of 2005, when he sold the company.
"Mr. Bolthouse is president of the Bolthouse Foundation, a privately held and operated philanthropic Christian organization whose ownership, purpose, direction and management are completely separate and distinct from that of Bolthouse Farms.
"Andre and Lisa Radant [daughter and son-in-law of William Bolthouse] currently own a minority interest in Bolthouse Farms, and are the only family members who retain ownership in the company.
"Andre and Lisa Radant are not involved in the Bolthouse Foundation. "The Bolthouse Foundation does not receive financial support or benefit from the profits of Bolthouse Farms.
"Bolthouse Farms neither supports, tracks nor in any way influences or condones the activities of the Bolthouse Foundation."
The statement also noted that the Bolthouse Farms "philosophical heritage manifests itself in business through the mutual respect, personal dignity and equitable treatment of all of our customers, employees, vendors and associates. The company does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, mental condition, handicap, veteran status, sexual orientation or marital status. Benefits are available for qualified dependents of same-sex marriages just as they are available for qualified dependents of heterosexual marriages. The requirements are exactly the same."
Nonetheless, Mr. Karger continued to hold Bolthouse Farms accountable for the donation made by the Bolthouse Foundation. He told The Produce News that his organization is contemplating intensifying its actions "specifically targeted to Bolthouse Farms," encouraged by the perceived success of the group's boycott against a San Diego hotel that resulted in two scheduled conferences being cancelled.
