HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A Hawaii food stuff supplier has submitted a federal lawsuit from Meadow Gold and its husband or wife dairies, declaring they are falsely internet marketing their mainland milk as a community solution.
Chad Buck, the head of the Hawaii Foodservice Alliance, claims Meadow Gold’s milk is imported to Hawaii from California.
But he says the company’s promotion and labels are misleading, generating consumers think they’re supporting local.
“Which a single would I obtain to aid nearby? You’d almost certainly select the 1 … that suggests ‘Hawaii’s Dairy.’ You’d in all probability select the 1 … that suggests manufactured with aloha,” Buck claimed.
He added that Meadow Gold is pricier than its competitors in Hawaii.
More than the final two a long time, Buck says he’s viewed about a dozen regional dairies go out of business enterprise for the reason that they could not contend with mainland operations and rates.
In April 2020, then Texas-based mostly Dean Foodstuff submitted for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and marketed the nostalgic Meadow Gold model to a Significant Island dairy farmer.
The business currently has a processing plant in Hilo and a new facility in Waipahu, but Buck suggests all their milk comes from out of condition.
“It’s not correct for the point out. It’s not appropriate for dairy farmers in this point out,” Buck explained.
“And if we’re at any time going to make a sustainable Hawaii yet again, we simply cannot permit mainland agriculture convey their solutions into Hawaii and faux that they are community.”
In response to the accommodate, Meadow Gold explained it has “never claimed that all our milk is area.”
Below is Meadow Gold Dairies’ comprehensive assertion:
“Former Big Island dairy farmer, Bahman Sadeghi assumed functions of Meadow Gold Dairies in Might 2020 to deal with and hold the legacy of the Meadow Gold brand name alive and has been diligently doing the job to make the procedure extra sustainable. As Hawaii’s sole milk processor, we process 100% of the milk made in Hawaii and 100% of the milk processed in Hawaii to satisfy the demand for Hawaii’s citizens that could not maybe be fulfilled with the present-day obtainable nearby dairy farmers.
“We have by no means claimed that all our milk is area, but we do think about ourselves Hawaii’s Dairy because we are committed to Hawaii and its community and will keep on to be even though we do the job toward building a more sustainable procedure.
“Furthermore, every thing we do is with aloha! This is aspect of our corporation tradition, and we are grateful to the earlier and current area dairy farmers who have arrived at out to categorical their support for us as we do the job jointly to construct a extra sustainable community meals program in Hawaii.
Copyright 2021 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.