Noooo! Leave my bag balm alone: Vermont's Bag Balm Ointment Goes Corporate

[cali]

Vermont's locally produced, quirkily used Bag Balm ointment long ago moved beyond the bovine, but now it's going corporate.

The 115-year-old family business was sold last week to a group of investors who are promising to expand the brand, but not change the formula of the gooey, yellow-green ointment.

Bag Balm began as a staple for dairy farmers treating the inflamed udders of cows, but over the generations, the salve sold in its signature square green tins has been used for everything from sunburns to the paws of dogs searching the World Trade Center's rubble after 9/11. It's been known to ease the loading of ammunition in firearms, take the squeak out of bedsprings and soothe pruned trees.

According to Bag Balm lore, the salve went from barns to bedrooms when dairy farmers' wives noticed how smooth their spouses' fingers were after using it on the cows. The wives were jealous.

The family decided to sell because it was "the right match at the right time," said Barbara Norris Allen, the granddaughter of John Norris, who founded the company in 1899.

<snip>

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/vermonts-bag-balm-ointment-corporate-25896443


Edited to add the link to the cool bag balm site:

http://www.bagbalm.com/our-history.htm

[bluesbassman]

1. Hate to hear that, been using it for chapped winter hands for years.

Hope the new corp doesn't screw it up.

[cali]

2. me too. it's a funny little place (all of 7 employees)

in the lovely little town of Lyndonville. Old wooden building. I've used bag balm for years for so many things.

[yeoman6987]

3. Never heard of it but sounds fantastic

At least the rest of us will be able to enjoy it too. Can't all stay in Vermont. You have to share with the other 49. I think this is what they are doing.

[Mariana]

4. I've bought it in Texas and in Florida.

My daughter has bought it in England.

[bluesbassman]

6. Actually I live in California. They sell it in every lotion section here.

I learned about it years ago when I was a heavy equipment mechanic. Working on those things out in the rain and mud during the winter would really tear up your hands. All the oldtimers had a can on top of their rollaways. Soon I had one too.

If my hands get really dry and cracked, I'll put a generous amount on them and cover with a pair of socks before I go to bed (it's pretty greasy). Next day they're right as rain!

[Liberal_in_LA]

18. never heard of it

[yeoman6987]

13. +1 - Bag Balm sounds wonderful

[morningfog]

19. Did you "+1" yourself?

[yeoman6987]

23. Yes only because I could not think

Of the name when I went to order it. This way it was at the top of my post list again.

[jwirr]

5. We used it every thing above and also for infections. And I am here to say - it worked. I hope they

do not change it.

[TheCowsCameHome]

7. You humans aren't the only ones that are worried...........

[cali]

9. lol. for sure- and it ain't just the cows

[nessa]

8. It's the best most effective diaper rash ointment we ever used. (nt)

,

[diabeticman]

10. My sister in law uses bag balm on the Eczema on her hands.

she had that issue with a skin issue and went to dermatologist since she was 10 was given tons of proscriptions and nothing work. Mother in law told her to ask the pharmacist. He gave her a green tin and only use a little dab 2 times a day. 24 hours later her had was completely clear.

[cali]

11. it's also amazing on burns

[amandabeech]

12. I have two big green tins of it in my place right now.

I have eczema and dry skin, and there's nothing like it. Of course, I use prescriptions sparingly, but the stuff is great!

I get it in rural Michigan when I go home to see my Mom. She grew up on a dairy farm, so no surprise there.

I wish that it weren't going corporate, but if the new owners don't change the formula, it'll still use it.

[SoCalDem]

14. Burt's Bees sold out too

[greatlaurel]

21. Their products which I used were changed and now smell like nasty chemicals.

It is a real shame. I bet some business school graduate got a big raise for buying a cheaper chemical replacement.

[SQUEE]

15. boo.

I use it after long rides, and sometimes as a replacement for chamois butter when the saddle has torn up the ol undercarriage. Hope they don't mess with the formula.

[NaturalHigh]

16. Oh crap! Seriously?

I hope they don't screw it up. I've been using that stuff and recommending it to others since I was a teenager.

[Egnever]

17. Ugh!

Have used bag balm in our family since my son was diagnosed with Diabetes 10 years ago. We started using it to help heal the site where his insulin pump cannula went in and it worked so well we started using it on all minor cuts and scrapes. The stuff is magical.

I seriously hope they dont muck with it. If I see new improved formula I am going to have to cry.

[morningfog]

20. Hate to hear it. I've not been without it for over 10 years.

I use it as a skin first aid treatment. Luckily I bought a big bin several years ago and am only half way through it.

[Warren DeMontague]

22. Bag balm?

... Nope. Not going there.

[kentauros]

24. You just did!

Maybe you should head over to the KY debate