North Carolina Methodists declare support for Mt. Olive

 For immediate release 6/04

The North Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church overwhelmingly endorsed a resolution supporting Mt. Olive Pickle Company, Inc., and expressed "profound regret" over the General Conference decision to endorse a boycott against the company.

The N.C. Annual Conference, meeting June 9-12 in Fayetteville, endorsed the resolution by a wide margin.

The resolution recognizes Mt. Olive's cooperative efforts to address farm worker concerns in North Carolina, and encourages the N.C. Conference "to continue to witness to all sides in this labor dispute, and remain engaged with all parties to this conflict...in an effort to help bring resolution to this issue."

The N.C. Annual Conference action was in response to the May decision of the church's General Conference to endorse the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC) boycott of Mt. Olive Pickle. The General Conference, which meets every four years, is the church's governing body.

"We are grateful for the support of North Carolina Methodists on this issue," said Lynn Williams, company spokesperson. "Our company remains committed to working with our farm suppliers, and with partners around the state - especially the North Carolina Conference - to address farm worker concerns in constructive ways."

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To see the full text of the resolution, click here.