FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 08/29/02

DURHAM, NC - Duke University President Nannerl O. Keohane today announced the university is lifting its boycott of Mt. Olive Pickle products. 

The announcement comes after a series of meetings and discussions this summer, including a visit by Dr. Keohane and members of her staff to Mt. Olive in June.  

“While we were disappointed with Duke’s announcement in March regarding the boycott, Duke pledged that it would continue to study the issues involved,” said Mt. Olive President Bill Bryan. “We are grateful that President Keohane and her staff did follow through on that pledge and were willing to reconsider the university’s stance on the boycott.” 

Mt. Olive will require signed Statements of Compliance from its North Carolina suppliers and their growers. The statements indicate that suppliers and growers are in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws governing farmworker employment. Mt. Olive already has language in its supplier contracts requiring adherence to federal and state laws. The compliance statements formalize Mt. Olive’s commitment to ensuring fair treatment of farmworkers on farms that supply Mt. Olive.  

In addition, Mt. Olive will partner with Duke in working with other food suppliers to implement strategies that can have a broad and positive influence on the farm industry in North Carolina, especially regarding conditions for farmworkers. Mt. Olive’s partnership with Duke will also involve working with state government officials in suggesting policy changes that could address farm worker concerns. Mt. Olive has long advocated broad-based efforts to address farmworker issues in North Carolina, and the company welcomes the opportunity to work with Duke in these areas. 

In making the announcement, Dr. Keohane said, “I am very pleased that we have reached this agreement. Implementing these steps is evidence of our collective commitment to make a substantive contribution to the lives of farm workers in our state. I know, too, that these are very complicated issues, with many different facets. I applaud Mt. Olive Pickle Company’s willingness to work with Duke University to seek meaningful courses of action, while being responsive to multiple needs and constituencies.” 

“We admire Duke for being willing to become engaged in this issue and to seek an appropriate course of action to address farmworker concerns,” Bryan said. “Our company has for a long time worked to encourage good practices among our suppliers and to work toward continued improvement in the agricultural industry. We are pleased to partner with Duke in ways that will truly benefit farm workers in this state.”  -end

To read the full text of Duke’s announcement, follow this URL: http://www.dukenews.duke.edu/ulife/boycott-jfb-kl.html

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