MEDIA REACTION - CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR'S "CAMPAIGN AGAINST

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 002236

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PD, INR/IAA, PM, INL
STATE FOR INR/IAA, PM, INL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OPRC PGOV CI
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR'S "CAMPAIGN AGAINST
CHILEAN AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS"



1. Summary: Governor Schwarzenegger's campaign encouraging
Californians to buy local fruits and vegetables (and not Chilean
produce) has generated negative publicity in Chile. On line
conservative, influential newspaper-of-record "El Mercurio,"
afternoon daily La Segunda, and TV Channel 13's webpage report that,
as part of his reelection campaign, the Governor is calling on
constituents to purchase California grown fruit and vegetables as a
way to protect the local economy and jobs. Reportedly the Governor
is specifically urges them not to buy Chilean products and has
alluded to the the poisoned grapes case of 1989. The Embassy has
already begun receiving press inquiries about the Governor's remarks
and a Chilean Senator called the Ambassador. End summary.


2. El Mercurio: "Terminator Schwarzenegger Lashes Out Against
Chilean Agriculture:" The reelection campaign for the Governor of
California has taken a dramatic turn, this time against Chilean
agricultural products...displacing immigration and security border
issues with Mexico to second place.... In an array of television
ads and in the print media Schwarzenegger calls on voters to buy
California grown vegetables and fruits and not Chile products as a
way to protect local farmers and jobs. Mocking his "I'll be back",
the Governor says, "Buy only Californian".... Schwarzenegger even
lashed out at Chilean producers with intimidation, reminding them of
the cyanide poisoned grapes incident.... The largest agricultural
worker's union, the "United Farm Workers of America", have
repeatedly denounced that the poisoned grapes incident was plotted
by the "Guimarra Vineyard Corporation", the largest wine producers
and farmers in California."


3. Channel 13: "Schwarzenegger launches an aggressive campaign
against foreign fruit products and calls on consumers to buy only
California grown agricultural products. Chilean Fruit Federation
(Fedefrut) general manager Juan Carlos Sepulveda labeled this a
political maneuver and ruled out any major impact on Chilean
exports, since in the end 'it's consumers who decide.'"

KELLY