This is $100,000 he won't be donating to just causes.

Pssh! Says you. Sounds like a just cause to me.

Nancy: You're right. I never got involved in epilepsy causes until my son developed it. And in really thinking about it I have slacked off on my donations since he outgrew it. I guess I had better find my checkbook......

Edit: Shoot, almost forgot the glut of pink items in my house that appeared after the wife developed breast cancer last year. I'm still active in that cause, though.

This is $100,000 he won't be donating to just causes.

 Pediatric cancer?   Naw.

Children starving in Angola?   Nope.

Rainforest depletion in South America?   Boring!

Ballot initiative banning gay marriage in the State of California?   Bingo!

He may donate to those causes, as well. This is just one cause.

Is this the same carrot company that nearly destroyed workers comp. benefits a couple of elections back?  One of them[carrot companies] used lots of money and deceptive campaigning to have the laws changed so injured workers benefits and rights were lessened significantly.  If so this fits in with that personality.

I thought a majority of voters were for same sex marriage. Why the panic over what Bolthouse does? Couldn't be there are doubts about polling statistics, could it?

Audrey,  Not at all..I was just thinking about that from Cats comment about Pancreatic Cancer...just a wandering thought.  That's why I qualified it with it being a tad off  topic.  People tend to put their money and energies into causes that are important to them personally.  According to maggzies article, they support evangelicals so that would explain their stance on gay marriages.

You could be right about those who will start eating carrots to support Bolthouse.  Now THAT would be funny.  Choking down carrots just to support Bolthouse.  I don't particularly like carrots so it's a moot point for me.   I buy a few bags a year for stews and pot roast but since I don't cook much any more, the carrot industry will neither rise nor fall on my purchases, or lack of.  Come to think of it, I don't even eat the carrots I put in those dishes and only put them in if someone else will be sharing the food.

Good Lord.  Imagine that.  The US may mimic the Roman Empire over carrots and Sausage McMuffins.  Whouda thunk it?  :-)

Are you saying this issue strikes close to home for the Bolthouses?   :-)

Nancy

There are just as many people who agree with them who will start eating carrots as there are carrot eaters who will stop because they disagree.

My boycott of a two bag a year purchase of carrots  would hardly topple the Bolthouse carrot industry.   I'll let it ride.

This is a tad off topic...but then, maybe not so far off.

Have you folks ever noticed that generally, people don't get involved in "causes" until that "cause" strikes close to home?  I doubt many people get active in the Juvenile Diabetes fundraisers for instance until a family member is diagnosed with it.  (or any other organization)

Back on topic.  Like it or not folks, this farmer has a right to financially support his beliefs.  You have a right to protest by not buying the product.  There are an awful lot of people out there who agree with Bolthouse..

I'll be taking my carrot money and donating it to fight this initiative.

Cat, everyone has their priorities.  Skewed though they may be!

Guess I'm off carrots.

Pediatric cancer?   Naw.

Children starving in Angola?   Nope.

Rainforest depletion in South America?   Boring!

Ballot initiative banning gay marriage in the State of California?   Bingo!

If you looked up the campaign contributions of all the producers of your produce and used that for your buying decisions, you might just be left with nothing to munch on unless you know a backyard gardener whose political views you agree with. This is a conservative town, so it's not suprising the local produce farms have owners donating to conservative causes.

Here's some info from wikipedia.

Controversy

[edit] Bolthouse Foundation

Bolthouse Farms company profits are used to support the The Bolthouse Foundation^[4], which supports groups including Evangelical Christian organizations.^[5]

Controversy surrounds the foundation as it, along with figures such as Blackwater Worldwide founder Erik Prince, are major donors for the Alliance Defense Fund that is itself criticized for their perceived legal team offense against Separation of church and state (as defined in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution), their stance against homosexuality, their focus on proselytism, as well as their opposition to birth control and sex education amongst other reasons.^[5][6]

The controversy surrounding the company has led some Bolthouse consumers to boycott Bolthouse Farms products^[7]

[edit] Carrot botulism outbreak

In September 2006, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency ordered a voluntarily recall on the Bolthouse Farms "100 per cent Carrot Juice" and other Bolthouse Farms products due to several cases of botulism resulting from consumption of the products. On September 29, 2006 the United States Food and Drug Administration recommended that Georgia residents not purchase Bolthouse Farms carrot juice and, the same day, warned consumers not to purchase Bolthouse Farms products dated November 11, 2006 or earlier.^[8]

The warning and recalls were due to reported cases of consumption of the beverages resulting in six cases of botulism in the United States and Canada. Two cases in Toronto, Canada resulted in paralysis; three cases recorded in Georgia, United States resulted in respiratory failure, with the patients requiring ventilators; one case recorded in Florida resulted in hospitalization. The patient in Florida has remained unresponsive since mid-September of 2006.^[9]

In response, Bolthouse Farms claimed that the illness was the fault of the consumers who had failed to properly refrigerate the products^[8]. The US Food and Drug Administration cited that this may not be the case and an investigation continues.^[10] Bolthouse Farms has subsequently released an FAQ regarding the event.^[11]

[edit]

Sounds like there will be excitement in Weho

OMG!  Bolthouse drinks are sold at the Ralphs in West Hollywood!  I'd hate to be the store manager there!

Does anybody know if Bolthouse receives any federal agricultural subsidies?

Sounds like Bolthouse is going down in SF.

Buy Grimmway!!! I heard that Bolthouse is reducing employee benefits, and they are spending money to fight gay marriage. Talk about screwed up priorities.

The Bolthouse Farms website has a nifty little store locator function for Bolthouse Farms drinks and dressings.  According to it, Bolthouse Farms drinks are sold in 137 stores in San Francisco.  I wonder how many of them will carry the stuff once the word gets out and customers start complaining.  San Francisco is a world unto itself, and a Bolthouse boycott there will most certainly work.

A report from a couple of years ago means they should put money nto sanitation?  Anything on the current conditions?

Was BoltHouse bought buy a larger company, recently?  I haven't bought Bolthouse drinks for awhile. They are kind of pricey, but Costco has good deals on them.  Now, I definately won't be buying their drinks.  I even have a family member who works for them.  

Wouldn't the $100,000 be better spent improving the sanitation at Bolthouse Farms?  Anyone remember the FDA press release from a couple of years ago?   For those who don't, here it is:

FDA Warns Consumers Not To Drink Bolthouse Farms Carrot Juice Due to Botulism Concerns

In response to a fourth case of botulism being linked to Bolthouse Farms, Bakersfield, California brand carrot juice, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to drink Bolthouse Farms Carrot Juice, 450 ml and 1 liter plastic bottles, with "BEST IF USED BY" dates of NOV 11 2006 or earlier.  Consumers should discard this product. FDA is also reiterating its advice to consumers to keep carrot juice — including pasteurized carrot juice — refrigerated.

The fourth case of botulism poisoning involves an adult female in Florida who is currently suffering from paralysis. To date, one link between the illness and the consumers appears to be that the juice they drank was not properly refrigerated once it was in the home, which allowed the Clostridium botulinum spores to grow and produce toxin.  FDA is investigating other possible links.

Clostridium botulinum is a bacterium commonly found in soil.  Under certain conditions these bacteria can produce a toxin that if ingested can result in botulism, a disease that may cause paralysis or death.  Cases of botulism from processed food are extremely rare in the U.S.

Symptoms of botulism can include: double-vision, droopy eyelids, altered voice, trouble with speaking or swallowing, and paralysis on both sides of the body that progresses from the neck down, possibly followed by difficulty in breathing. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek immediate medical attention.

Adequate refrigeration is one of the keys to food safety and is essential to preventing bacterial growth. Refrigerator temperatures should be no higher than 40°F and freezer temperatures no higher then 0°F. Consumers should check the temperatures occasionally with an appliance thermometer.

Consumers should look for the words "Keep Refrigerated" on juice labels so they know which products must be kept refrigerated. FDA is looking into whether industry's current juice labels provide clear refrigeration instructions

Good on him.  I don't agree, but he's putting his money where his mouth is.

Also, I'm glad he's spending his money someplace where it won't make a difference rather than on close elections.

Chinese-made synthetic carrots will soon flood the U.S. produce market, and before long Bolthouse will be so broke that he can't pay attention...

There would be no chance of winning for boycotters....They're going against rabbits, horses, carrot cake makers, carrot juice squeezers, and carrot lovers like me. Sorry but for those who are happy with the new proposal regarding gay marriage...this is bad news....

mmmm, who thought something so orange could be so gooood  :D

now heres a few of you a lesson..just because an issue is being rammed down peoples throats by a few people on a blog..doesnt mean its going to be a fact in the real world..

Ahhhh yummmm...Carrot Cake anyone??

Go ahead, boycott away.  We love carrots and my horse can eat all you don't.

Radicals, every one of them.

.

OK, I don't need to buy any more carrots.

THREE CHEERS FOR BOLTHOUSE!!!!!  

The fall of the Roman Empire was caused by carrot farmers.