KATU stands by story on Tillamook cheese co-op
By Anna Song and KATU Web StaffA recent investigation into a dairy farmer's fight against the company that makes Tillamook Cheese prompted some customers to boycott its products, and the company to respond by calling the KATU report inaccurate. But when KATU tried to get officials to talk specifically about alleged inaccuracies, they refused to meet with a reporter and discuss the matter. It all started when a KATU investigation profiled Tillamook dairy farmer Xavier Avila, a husband and father of six, who told us he'd been dumping 11,000 gallons of milk down the drain. He found nowhere to sell it after the Tillamook creamery board in December terminated his agreement to produce milk for the creamery with no explanation. Avila said he believes he was kicked out of the co-op because of his support for fellow dairy farmer Liz Classen's fight against the Tillamook creamery's field inspector Bryan Gibson. Classen was eventually granted a temporary stalking order in court against Gibson. She claimed that his visits to her farm were always of a sexual nature, and that he always made her know he was in control. After being repeatedly turned down for on-camera interviews by the board, KATU confronted its spokesman Mark Wustenberg, who refused to answer our specific questions about why Avila's milk agreement was terminated, saying it was a confidential matter. He also refused to answer questions about Gibson, citing the stalking order that was still being handled in court at the time. After hearing from customers who were upset after watching the report, the Tillamook County Creamery Association began sending out a form letter in response. In part, it said that "many statements" in the KATU story were not factual. KATU made numerous attempts over several days to meet with members of the Tillamook Creamery Board to discuss their concerns about the news report - as well as KATU's concern about the company's e-mail response to the public. Despite these efforts, Mark Wustenberg, the board's spokesman, informed KATU the board would not meet with a reporter. KATU stands by its story. |
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