Dairy farmers in the US have protested Ben & Jerry’s on the subject of pay and living conditions.
The world famous ice cream maker is known for its social activism, such as climate change, fair trade and farm animal welfare.
Ben & Jerry's agreed two years ago to participate in the 'Milk with Dignity' program. However, company and worker representatives have yet to reach an agreement.
About 85 per cent of the milk Ben & Jerry’s uses in its ice cream made in North America comes from about 80 Vermont dairy farms.
Its Caring Dairy program promotes sustainable farming by offering farmers cash incentives for keeping up with best management practices.
Over 300 participating farms in America and Europe take the program, mainly in the Netherlands.
'Values-led business'
However, Ben Greenwood, a spokesman for Ben & Jerry’s, said before the march took place that negotiations between the company and worker representatives for the agreement were taking place.
“We are a values-led business. We frame ourselves as an aspiring social justice company,” said Greenwood.
“We try to do good with everything we can with our business. Dairy has definitely been one of those issues we have done a ton of work on for decades.”
Dairy farmers in the UK are no stranger to protesting low prices.
Last year, hundreds of members of the UK farm protest group Farmers For Action attended protests due to Muller's low milk prices.
The group's first rally took place on 7 August 2016, as part of its campaign to ensure dairy farmers get their fair share of increase in milk prices.
