The Bacon Wrapped Hot Dog is Named the Official Hot Dog of Los Angeles

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LOS ANGELES, Nov. 18, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Angelenos have spoken and voted to make one of Southern California's culinary icons, the Bacon Wrapped Hot Dog, the Official Hot Dog of Los Angeles.  Today Farmer John will commemorate the occasion with an official proclamation from councilmember Tom LaBonge and a donation of more than 50,000 pounds of food to local food banks for those who need it most.

Throughout the campaign, which kicked off September 2 and ran through Election Day on November 2, supporters logged onto www.votelahotdog.org to cast their votes and made their voices heard in support of one measure every Angeleno could get behind.  As part of the campaign, local food company Farmer John pledged to donate one pound of food for each vote received, and has now made good on its word by donating more than 50,000 pounds of food to local Los Angeles food banks Union Rescue Mission and Angel Harvest Food Bank.  To help commemorate the donation, 2010 MLB All-Star Andre Ethier, who partnered with Farmer John during the campaign, was on-site today at Union Rescue Mission to help make the donation.

"Having served Southern California for nearly 80 years, we are committed to the community and are  happy to bring an iconic part of our culinary history to the forefront and to provide food to those who need it most this holiday season," said Greg Longstreet, president of Farmer John.  "We are thrilled that Angelenos not only stood behind making the Bacon Wrapped Hot Dog the Official Hot Dog of Los Angeles, but also recognized the importance of giving back to the community."

Ethier, a known foodie and avid philanthropist, was drawn to the campaign, not only for the opportunity to make a local fan favorite hot dog the Official Hot Dog of Los Angeles, but also for the charitable aspect.  

"This campaign was a natural fit for me to help make the Bacon Wrapped Hot Dog, a personal favorite, an official part of Los Angeles history, and also to really be able to give back to those in need," said Ethier.  "Food banks, including Union Rescue Mission, often serve more than 3,000 people daily, and because of the votes of Angelenos in support of this campaign this food is going right where it is needed most during this holiday season."

About Farmer John

Farmer John, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), is headquartered in Los Angeles. Farmer John produces more than 1,200 items for the retail and foodservice channels in the western United States. Offering an array of fresh and value-added protein products, the Farmer John® Brand holds leadership positions in many categories. The world-famous Dodger Dogs® are one of the many products marketed under the Farmer John® Brand. The company employs more than 1,500 people in Southern California. For additional information, please visit www.farmerjohn.com.

About Andre Ethier

Andre Ethier made his Major League debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2006 and quickly established himself as a major contributor to the Dodger lineup. He has since become a key offensive spark for the Dodgers and in 2009, was awarded the NL Silver Slugger and was voted MLB's Pepsi Clutch Player of the year. In 2010, Ethier was voted in as a starter in his first MLB All-Star game. Andre's enormous popularity off the field stems from his many charitable activities as well as his wildly popular MLB blog called 'Dining with Dre,' where he reviews many of the restaurants he discovers during his travels.

SOURCE Farmer John