Activists Call
Off Boycott of Bolthouse Farms

Californians Against Hate -- a group focused on highlighting donors to Proposition 8, the ballot initiative that could ban same-sex marriage in the Golden State -- has ended its boycott against Bolthouse Farms, a vegetable grower and juice maker whose founder donated $100,000 to get the measure on the ballot.

The Los Angeles Times reported on Thursday that Californians Against Hate ended its war with Bolthouse -- which included protests at grocery stores that stocked Bolthouse Products -- because the company's chief executive has provided evidence that Bolthouse Farms has separated itself from company founder William Bolthouse. This knowledge "provides us with confidence that Bolthouse Farms is committed to working productively with the [LGBT] community," according to a release from Californians Against Hate.

Earlier in the year, William Bolthouse donated $100,000 to ProtectMarriage.com, a group that helped gather the required signatures to get the anti-gay measure on the ballot. But current management at Bolthouse Farms point out that William Bolthouse sold his stake in Bolthouse Farms in 2005, and that the company also recently extended medical benefits to partners of gay employees. Bolthouse CEO Jeff Dunn also made a personal $5,000 contribution to No on 8, the organization fighting Proposition 8.

The Bakersfield, Calif.-based company released a statement saying it thanked "Californians Against Hate for recognizing our work to meet our mission of showing respect and integrity to our employees, our vendors and our customers." (Neal Broverman, The Advocate)