Ithaca's counterculture clash: Wegmans rejects political message on yogurt

Ithaca Journal ^ | Originally published Saturday, March 1, 2003 | By DAN HIGGINS and KELLI GRANT

[Behind Liberal Lines]

ITHACA -- Barbara Smith thinks we're living in a dark time for unpopular ideas, especially if you print them on your home grown yogurt.

Smith said she got a quick lesson in free speech Friday when the supermarket chain Wegmans said it wouldn't accept the latest shipment of her family's Meadowsweet yogurt, which bore new labels that read: "Stop the War on Iraq."

[Keeper of the Turf]

I would have thought the big new P&C would have made a dent but no.

It might have made a dent, but you'd never notice. There is a greater concentration of people that live near the Wegmans in Dewitt than the P&C in Fayetteville.

[mass55th]

"Wegman's is a great grocery store."

You ain't just kiddin'. I grew up in Rochester and used to go there as a kid. I'm 55 now. Although I live in Rome, New York now, I have to make a regular trek to Wegmans in Fayetteville to get my fix. It's a pleasure to shop at those stores. They don't have anything like them around here. I've always wished that they'd build one in my neck of the woods, but since the trip is only about 45 minutes one way, it's definitely worth it.

[jalisco555]

I always say that if I ever move away the thing I'll miss the most is Wegmans!

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Smith said she got a quick lesson in free speech Friday

The First Amendment provides that "Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech."

This woman, like many others, somehow misconstrues that into believing that she has the right to express herself in any way in any place, including some one else's private property.

She has no more right to sell her "No War" yogurt at Wegman's than I would to sell "Bomb Iraq" burgers in the local hippie food co-op.

[Soaring Feather]

City of Evil bump

[3D-JOY]

I moved and I do!!!!!

Nothing to compare all across the country.

I have to go back during the Rochester 2 weeks of summer(LOL) each year and for Class Reunions...just to go to Wegmans.

They are expecting an expansion to Northern Va and Maryland this year and I may move there to resume my "heavenly shopping"!

[jigsaw]

When I was checking out at the Ithaca Wegmans yesterday afternoon, at the next register was one of Ithaca's most vocal liberals. I don't know her name but she's forever bitching at City Council meetings and in the press.
Of course, she was walking through the lane set aside for the handicapped and had a cart full of stuff, unlike the few others in the lane who had just a few items so they wouldn't delay the lane if an elderly person or someone in a wheelchair arrived.
Ithaca, the City of Weasels.

[speedy]

Well, I live in NYC, and if you had a store like Wegman's in Manhattan, the lines would go around the block. You can get anything you want in New York, but you can't get it all in one place like you can at Wegman's!! They've expanded into NJ and PA, and I wish them well. I could go for some of their pastrami right about now.

[speedy]

Lots of nice people. It's just that that whole thing with the four seasons being June, July, August and Winter that got to me. I always felt like I was living in one of those paperweights, where the snow was always drifting down on me. I tried to put forward my proposal to build a retractable dome over the whole city of Syracuse, but I didn't know who to pay off to get it done.

[drjimmy]

I believe the person of whom you speak is disabled in a non-visible kind of way.

[yankeedame]

Smith, her husband, and five children make the yogurt themselves in a kitchen attached to their barn

Bet a visit from a health inspector couldn't hurt.

=============

I was thinking the same thing. A little too "rustic" for my taste.

[Petronski]

Uh, are there any yogurt consumers who aren't already opposed to the war?

[Diva Betsy Ross]

This from the same company who hangs huge Black History Month banners from the ceilings ,and has table top tents in their prepared foods area that list all of the acheivments of blacks. I am gald they finally made a stand, however, I would hail them as the great defneders equality or anything. Besides, in my Wegemans ,getting produce is like shopping on skid row.

[general_re]

It's just that that whole thing with the four seasons being June, July, August and Winter that got to me.

Actually, you're wrong - there are only two seasons (for drivers, anyway) in upstate New York, "winter" and "construction" ;)

[jude24]

Gotta love Wegmans.

Cheap, quality groceries and none of the political crap.

Makes me wanna go buy a sandwich there or something....

[ez]

I never mentioned Danny Wegman's religion.

[crescentbeach]

I grew up around Rochester and love Wegmans, but don't consider their prices low at all. Has the Wal-Mart competition really driven them down in the past several months?

The Wegmans are such community-minded people.

My first FR post, btw!

[jude24]

Well, congrats.

Their prices have been consistantly better than Tops, I can tell you that. Wal-mart doesnt sell a lot of food around here (driving to the Super-walmart 25 miles away seems silly to me...).

[Phantom Lord]

I wish we had Wegmans down here in NC. The gorcery stores here suck compared to Wegmans, Tops, and The Giant.