This is a formal update on the result of the 2021 litigation with Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) and their blatant misrepresentation of our farm, family and practices.
Since 2015, this group has spread many misleading statements, videos and press-releases that blatantly misrepresent our practices. And as you most likely know we have provided numerous statements, third-party validations and full transparency to all of the claims this group has made.
In 2021, the Alameda County Superior Court entered final judgment in favor of Diestel and against Direct Action Everywhere. The court found that there was “not one scintilla of evidence” that our birds had been deprived proper care. Quite to the contrary, the evidence established that the unique construction of our barns provide fresh air and sunlight for our birds and that “our birds receive a level of care and attention most turkey producers never attain”. Additionally, in the middle of trial DxE was forced to abandon their most outrageous and false claims regarding illicit drug and chemical use, as the evidence clearly supported our 'No Antibiotics Ever' raising practices. This final judgment includes a permanent injunction against DxE and everyone associated the organization.
The same lawyer involved in this first lawsuit also filed two identical lawsuits in federal court in Northern California and New Mexico. Those actions were based on precisely the same underlying allegations and unsupported evidence of wrongdoing that were previously asserted by DxE. The additional findings had absolutely no merit and we will always defend ourselves and practices against these spurious allegations.
Our family will not allow groups such as DxE and attorneys to misrepresent all the hard work we do to supply thoughtfully raised turkeys to our customers. For over 70-years, we have pioneered and refined our farming and manufacturing practices. Together with our customers we have grown as a company and for the next 70-years we will continue to do turkey one way, which we think is the right way. This is what we call the Diestel Difference and this is a promise to always be - not the biggest - but the BEST. We will vigorously defend our family, our industry, our farms, our teams and our birds against unscrupulous activist groups and the same attorneys who unsuccessfully attempt to misrepresent our practices.
As always, we welcome your questions and look forward to your feedback. We hope you’ll join us in our mission to bring the best turkeys to market, to advance the art of independent family-owned farming and move our industry forward in a positive direction.
Thank you for your unyielding support!
