"We want the gay community and our friends to know who these people are, and then they can decide whether they want to support their businesses or not," Karger said in an interview.
Karger wrote to Andre Radandt -- Bolthouse's son-in-law and Bolthouse Farm's non-executive chairman -- Sept. 19, describing the contribution as "an insult to gay and lesbian Americans."
"Why should we spend our hard-earned money buying Bolthouse Farms' products only to have it used against us?" the letter continued. The next day, the group leafleted the Hollywood Ralphs. Demonstrations at the two Whole Foods markets followed.
In recent weeks, the 93-year-old carrot company, which produces popular fruit- and coffee-based drinks, has worked to distance itself from William Bolthouse and his contribution.
The company has released a detailed fact sheet designed to correct what Hudson described as misperceptions.
In it, Dunn said that "Mr. Bolthouse's personal actions are not related to Bolthouse Farms, the consumer products farming company, in any way" and the company "had no knowledge" of the contribution until early June.
Bolthouse sold his stake in the company in 2005, Dunn said in the document, although he leases his land to the company for farming purposes, and his daughter and son-in-law still own a 28% interest in it.
That wasn't enough distance for Karger.
Since then, however, the two sides have reached what Karger describes as "a settlement," with Bolthouse instating a "diversity program designed to support inclusiveness in its dealings with all stakeholders including the LGBT community."
Bolthouse Farms has recently extended medical benefits to same-sex partners of gay employees, according to the Californians Against Hate statement.
Bring on the carrots.
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maria.laganga@latimes.com
