My Immigrant Idaho: Chobani to hire Afghan refugees, par for the course for Biden, and a Turkish owned company!

A company with the world’s largest yogurt operation (located in Idaho), accused in the past of favoring immigrant and refugees over U.S. citizens, as employees, and of course denying those accusations, has announced (on 21SEP2021) that it wants Afghan refugees to fill their vacant positions, and is creating a coalition of more than 30 companies that will do the same!

The owner of Chobani is also not a U.S. citizen (just like Elon Musk is not), even though he has been living in the United States since 1994!  Hamdi Ulukaya is described by Wikipedia as “a Turkish businessman, activist, and philanthropist of Kurdish descent based in the United States.”

In 2005, using a U.S. Small Business Administration loan, Ulukaya bought a defunct Kraft yogurt factory in New York.  He called his new business Agro Farma.  By 2007 he had changed the name to Chobani.

Chobani yogurt facility, Twin Falls, Idaho, December 2012.

In 2012, Chobani opened what was then called the largest yogurt factory in the world, in Twin Falls, Idaho.

In 2014, Ulukaya began funding refugee operations around the world, starting with a $2-million donation to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

It should also be known that Ulukaya has made huge donations within the United States, helping local communities struggling with the never recovering bad economy.  He has also expressed concern and support for the U.S. dairy farmers.

2015, CNN report saying Ulukaya wants all U.S. corporations to hire refugees:

In 2016, a New York Times article stated that Chobani was “employing more than 300 refugees”.

2016, Fox News reports that people want to boycott Chobani for hiring refugees over citizens:

Gov’na Brad Little attends a Chobani grand opening ceremony.

2017, Idaho’s current gov’na, Brad Little, praised Chobani saying “Chobani has worked hard to make itself an integral part of the Magic Valley community. Chobani’s latest investment in its state-of-the-art Innovation & Community Center underscores its commitment to Idaho. We are grateful to the leadership and employees at Chobani for their continued dedication to excellence, which only serves to help us in our goal to make Idaho a place where our children and grandchildren choose to stay.” Really? Then why are so many of Idaho’s youth leaving The Gem State?

In 2018, pro-British empire CNN called Ulukaya a “US billionaire” (note CNN doesn’t punctuate US, which is typical British grammar, not U.S. grammar) even though his official citizenship is still with Turkey, and claims the number of refugees and immigrants employed by Chobani is only 30% of Chobani’s total number of workers. 

2019, Ulukaya explains why he hires refugees:

February 2021, WKTVNEWSChannel2 report on Chobani and Utica’s refugee population:

May 2021, KTVB report on why Idaho refugee organizations are expecting a flood of refugees:

Read on indeed.com what employees at Chobani’s Twin Falls, Idaho, operation think.

Read on glassdoor.com what Chobani employees around the world think.

A new documentary claims Chobani puts employees before profit.  Do an internet search for all the food donations Chobani makes around the world every year and you will wonder how does Chobani have anything left over to sell, and, how can it afford to pay its employees?

Chobani Australia to sell yogurt for dogs.

Chobani makes vegan yogurt.

Chobani goes public, makes 2021 debut on stockmarket.

In 2012, Ulukaya’s ex-wife sued him, saying she was owned money from previous investments.

In 2013, a Californian sued Chobani after an outbreak of mold.  The U.S. FDA confirmed 220 people reported they were sickened after eating Chobani products. 

In 2014, Chobani was sued for copyright infringement.

Also in 2014, Chobani sued over its claim of being Greek yogurt.

The only time I’ve had Chobani yogurt was about five years ago when I was totally reliant upon food from charities.  It was slimy and tasted bad, but then again it could have been sitting on a shelf for a long time, which in the case of donated foods is typical, I was routinely given food products that were several months past their ‘use by’ dates.  If I can’t find a job soon (and I’ve been told by several HR managers that it is because of my age) I’ll be forced to return to relying on food pantries/banks.  Oh by the way, in 2017, lawsuits filed by former employees at the Twin Falls, Idaho, Chobani factory claimed the company discriminated based on sex and age.

Also in 2017, Chobani lawyers stated that claims against Chobani of employment of violent refugees “…have caused and continue to cause harm to Idaho residents…”

In 2018, a former employee of the Twin Falls factory sued Chobani, saying the company discriminated against her because of her disability.

Also in 2018, Chobani itself filed a lawsuit against the Twin Falls School District, saying the school district overcharged Chobani for property tax/fees.

In October 2019, New York’s Unadilla Valley Central School District was given additional time, by a judge, to justify the property tax/fees for the Chenango County Chobani factory. In 2017, Chobani itself filed a lawsuit against the Unadilla Valley Central District, saying the school district overcharged Chobani for property tax/fees.

In October 2020, Chobani was sued for false advertising regarding its vanilla yogurt.

Also in 2020, Chobani was sued regarding its claim of 45% less sugar.

In May 2021, Chobani was sued for false advertising regarding its low-fat Greek yogurt.

In July 2021, Chobani was accused of misrepresenting certification by Fair Trade USA (a non-profit organization).

My Immigrant Idaho:

Idaho Office of Resettlement reveals that Afghans are the second largest refugee group in Idaho, and that’s before Biden’s Afghanistan SNAFU!

MORMON FARMERS SUFFER UNDER TRUMP’S ILLEGALS POLICY!

 UNEMPLOYMENT SERVICES NOW IN SPANISH!

 FEDERALES (say it in Spanish, it means federal government officials) SAY IDAHO DOMINATED BY POOR IMMIGRANTS!

IDAHO BURDENED BY $187-MILLION WORTH OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS! 

Photo by Jack Dempsey-Invision for Chobani.

Right to Work (you over) Idaho governor Butch Otter gives praise at the Chobani immigrant employment alter!

Biden’s War, July 2021: SECRET NEW AFGHAN-AFRICAN REFUGEE OPERATION REVEALED!