Florida says Ben & Jerry’s change ‘step in right direction’

TALLAHASSEE – Gov. Ron DeSantis and state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis praised Ben & Jerry’s dad or mum firm for a choice that may enable gross sales of ice cream in Israel. 

But that does not imply Florida will instantly return to investing or contracting with the dad or mum firm, Unilever, and its subsidiaries. 

Over the objection of Ben & Jerry’s, Unilever on Tuesday introduced an settlement that may result in Avi Zinger, an Israeli producer and distributor of the model, promoting ice cream independently beneath the product’s Hebrew and Arabic names in Israel and the West Bank. 

DeSantis stated in a Twitter put up that the transfer by Unilever is “a step in the right direction,” however he remained “disappointed they took a year to stand against” a motion that includes boycotting Israel, divesting and imposing sanctions. 

Last yr, the State Board of Administration, which oversees Florida’s pension fund and different investments, suggested Unilever it had been positioned on Florida’s checklist of “Scrutinized Companies that Boycott Israel” after Ben & Jerry’s stated “it is inconsistent with our values for Ben & Jerry’s ice cream to be sold in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.” 

State Board of Administration spokeswoman Emilie Oglesby stated in an e-mail Friday that “at this time, it does not appear that the status of Unilever remaining on the state’s ‘Scrutinized Companies that Boycott Israel List’ would change.” 

When the state board took motion final yr, Florida had about $139 million in holdings in Unilever and its subsidiaries. 

“As we continue to review and learn more about this development, we will analyze such in the context of our statutory directives and act accordingly,” Oglesby stated in the e-mail.