Environment & Energy

Lodestar

(2,388 posts) Tue Dec 23, 2014, 11:48 AM Dec 2014

Largest Organic Producer in U.S Bought by Company with Strong Ties to Pro-GMO Funding

The massive Earthbound Farm organic produce corporation is expected to be sold to the WhiteWave Foods Company in a $600 million deal that has raised the eyebrows of organic consumers and advocates across the country.

WhiteWave spun off of Dean Foods, Inc. in 2012, the latter a company that has vehemently opposed GMO labeling with anti-labeling campaign donations.

http://eatlocalgrown.com/article/12448-largest-organic-producer-in-u-s-earthbound-farms-bought-by-company-with-strong-ties-to-pro-gmo-dean-foods.html?c=tca

17 replies

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Largest Organic Producer in U.S Bought by Company with Strong Ties to Pro-GMO Funding (Original Post) Lodestar Dec 2014 OP

It was bound to happen. That is how the big 'uns eliminate competition anymore, merrily Dec 2014 #1

Uh, it is one "big un" buying another "big un." And it happened in 2013. yellowcanine Dec 2014 #7

Your point is what? That organics and GMOs are the same size and on a level playing field? merrily Dec 2014 #12

Point is it is one big organic buying another big organic over a year ago. Nothing to get breathless yellowcanine Dec 2014 #13

All companies that describe themselves as organic are not interchangeable. merrily Dec 2014 #16

I buy Earthbound all the time! KansDem Dec 2014 #2

Someone correct me if needed, but Whtewave is the organic arm of Dean. See Horizon and almond milk.. on point Dec 2014 #3

Yep. They own Horizon Dairy. And Earthbound Farms since Dec. 2013. OLD NEWS yellowcanine Dec 2014 #6

the gmo thing aside, isnt this what we wanted? mopinko Dec 2014 #4

Old News. Earthbound Farms was acquired by WhiteWave Foods in 2013. yellowcanine Dec 2014 #5

We already have to boycott Eden Foods because of their "Hobby Lobby" like activities now too... cascadiance Dec 2014 #8

NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!!! BlancheSplanchnik Dec 2014 #9

It's all theater, folks. The PTB always get what they want, even though their shows say valerief Dec 2014 #10

I guess I had better .... daggahead Dec 2014 #11

+1 nt RiverLover Dec 2014 #15

We are all screwed. Monopolies are taking over everything, including our govt. RiverLover Dec 2014 #14

Best to buy from small, local growers and farmers diane in sf Dec 2014 #17

merrily

(45,251 posts)

1. It was bound to happen. That is how the big 'uns eliminate competition anymore,

Reply to Lodestar (Original post)

Tue Dec 23, 2014, 11:57 AM

Dec 2014

just buy it out.

Still, it sucks.

yellowcanine

(35,699 posts)

7. Uh, it is one "big un" buying another "big un." And it happened in 2013.

Reply to merrily (Reply #1)

Tue Dec 23, 2014, 01:03 PM

Dec 2014

Lot of good outrage going to waste.

merrily

(45,251 posts)

12. Your point is what? That organics and GMOs are the same size and on a level playing field?

Reply to yellowcanine (Reply #7)

Wed Dec 24, 2014, 12:28 AM

Dec 2014

And something that happened in 2013 no longer matters? As to your comment about wasted "outrage," I've heard it's relevant only if spelled with a "p" and coupled with a reference to a pony

yellowcanine

(35,699 posts)

13. Point is it is one big organic buying another big organic over a year ago. Nothing to get breathless

Reply to merrily (Reply #12)

Wed Dec 24, 2014, 07:21 PM

Dec 2014

about. Actually has little to do with local food systems, except that both companies involved make it more difficult for small local organic producers to compete. This will not materially change that.

merrily

(45,251 posts)

16. All companies that describe themselves as organic are not interchangeable.

Reply to yellowcanine (Reply #13)

Fri Dec 26, 2014, 06:59 AM

Dec 2014

For example, I support GMO labeling. I have a silly idea that I am entitled to know what I am paying my money for and what I am putting into my body.

KansDem

(28,498 posts)

2. I buy Earthbound all the time!

Reply to Lodestar (Original post)

Tue Dec 23, 2014, 12:05 PM

Dec 2014

http://www.ebfarm.com/products

This ****ing pisses me off!

on point

(2,506 posts)

3. Someone correct me if needed, but Whtewave is the organic arm of Dean. See Horizon and almond milk..

Reply to Lodestar (Original post)

Tue Dec 23, 2014, 12:32 PM

Dec 2014

yellowcanine

(35,699 posts)

6. Yep. They own Horizon Dairy. And Earthbound Farms since Dec. 2013. OLD NEWS

Reply to on point (Reply #3)

Tue Dec 23, 2014, 01:00 PM

Dec 2014

I guess someone is in the holiday mood and needed to gin up some outrage.

mopinko

(70,140 posts)

4. the gmo thing aside, isnt this what we wanted?

Reply to Lodestar (Original post)

Tue Dec 23, 2014, 12:41 PM

Dec 2014

wasnt this supposed to happen- consumers proved they would pay for organic, and the big growers took notice, and changed their ways?
correct me if i am missing something here.

yellowcanine

(35,699 posts)

5. Old News. Earthbound Farms was acquired by WhiteWave Foods in 2013.

Reply to Lodestar (Original post)

Tue Dec 23, 2014, 12:52 PM

Dec 2014

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthbound_Farm

Milk producer WhiteWave to buy Earthbound Farm for $600 million
Mon Dec 9, 2013 8:02am EST

Earthbound Farms was also implicated in the 2006 e coli outbreak in 2006 so I am not sure that it is the good actor which some people think it is. It may be organic, but it is very much an industrial farm.

WhiteWave Farms, by the way also owns Horizon Dairy, the largest organic dairy in the U.S., so I fail to see how any of this is out of the ordinary. One industrial farm gobbled up another one. So what else is new?

cascadiance

(19,537 posts)

8. We already have to boycott Eden Foods because of their "Hobby Lobby" like activities now too...

Reply to Lodestar (Original post)

Tue Dec 23, 2014, 01:15 PM

Dec 2014

Hopefullly there are some decent organic food producers that will stand strong both against the GMO industry as well as for ethical corporate behavior too.