Californians Against Hate to end boycott against Bolthouse Farms in fight over gay marriage

Nearly a month ago, opponents of Proposition 8 -- which would amend the state Constitution to ban gay marriage -- started a "soft boycott" of Bolthouse Farms, among the largest producers of fresh-cut carrots in the world and the maker of juices and smoothies sold in foodie haunts and upscale markets.

Company patriarch William Bolthouse Jr. had donated $100,000 to help get the measure on the Nov. 4 ballot, and Californians Against Hate wanted gay and lesbian shoppers and their friends to know it. The group figured it was truth in labeling.

Demonstrations at the "rock 'n' roll" Ralphs on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood and Whole Foods markets in New York City and Washington, D.C., ensued. The gay blogosphere lit up, indignant.

But on Wednesday, the company and the advocacy group made peace, and the prickly pear cactus lemonade can flow again.

The "Don't Buy Bolthouse" campaign ended because the company's chief executive "has provided us with a compelling perspective which clearly demonstrates the separation between Bolthouse Farms and . . . its founder, William Bolthouse," Californians Against Hate said Wednesday in a written statement.

That perspective, the statement continued, "provides us with confidence that Bolthouse Farms is committed to working productively with the [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] community."

For its part, the Bakersfield-based food giant "thanks Californians Against Hate for recognizing our work to meet our mission of showing respect and integrity to our employees, our vendors and our customers," company spokesman Lane Hudson said Wednesday in another written statement.

Jeffrey Dunn, Bolthouse Farms president and chief executive, was not available for comment. But the statement said that the company's position "is good for our business and good for the community at large."

The controversy began after word of William Bolthouse's contribution to ProtectMarriage.com, one of the organizations behind Proposition 8, began circulating on the Internet.

In early July, political consultant Fred Karger formed Californians Against Hate to draw attention to those who make major contributions to the effort to ban gay marriage in California, particularly business owners.

The "Don't Buy Bolthouse" campaign was the group's third -- after targeting two San Diego hotels owned by developer Doug Manchester and A-1 Self Storage, which is owned by Terry Caster. Manchester donated $125,000 and the Caster family gave $293,000 to the effort to ban same-sex marriages.